Teacher Liu, I just learned about the uses of the character '打', and I found it really complicated! For example, '打车'. At first, I thought it meant hitting a car.

Haha, Xiaopan, your understanding is quite funny! '打车' doesn’t mean hitting a car, it means taking a taxi. You can imagine it as using your hand to 'knock' the air to call a taxi to stop.

I see! Then what about '打工'? Does this word have something to do with 'work'?

You’re right! '打工' means doing a job, especially temporary work. Many college students work part-time during vacations to earn pocket money. Here '打' is like striking, one job after another.

That’s so interesting! I also saw the phrase '打酱油'. It seems to have a special meaning online?

You’ve observed carefully! '打酱油' originally meant to buy soy sauce, but now on the internet it means 'this has nothing to do with me, I’m just passing by and watching'. Like you just went out to buy soy sauce and happened to come across something.

Wow, the character '打' really has so many uses! Chinese is truly profound, I must study hard.