TongTong
Sign in

上蜡 (shàng là) — to wax (a surface), to apply wax

Definition

A separable verb meaning to apply wax to a surface (car, floor, furniture). Split it as 上…蜡 around a direct object or 了 (给地板上了蜡).

verb
to wax (a surface)to apply wax

Examples

  • 。
    Tā xū yào gěi chē shàng là.
    He needs to wax the car.
  • 。
    Tā gěi dì bǎn shàng le là.
    He waxed the floor.
  • 上蜡。
    Měi yuè shàng là yí cì bǎo hù qī.
    Wax the protective coating once a month.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

上shàngapply
蜡làwax

“上” means to apply, and “蜡” is wax.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 蠟; 蜡 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
虫虫chónginsect
Sound part声符shēngfú
巤
巤liè蠟là
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 蠟 has 虫 (insect) and 巤 (sound); the simplified 蜡 is a shorthand.

Open 蜡 →
Appears in
Cleaning & Chores

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.