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下摆 (xià bǎi) — lower hem (of a garment); width of the hem

Definition

A specific term for the lower hem of a garment — the bottom edge that flares or hangs down. It refers to that hem itself and to its width/shape, not to clothing in general.

noun
lower hem (of a garment)width of the hem

Examples

  • 下摆。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu de xià bǎi hěn piào liang.
    The lower hem of this garment is very beautiful.
  • 下摆。
    Qǐng bǎ qún zi de xià bǎi gǎi duǎn yì diǎn.
    Please shorten the lower hem of the skirt.
  • 下摆。
    Zhè jiàn dà yī de xià bǎi yǒu diǎn tài kuān le.
    The lower hem of this coat is a bit too wide.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

下xiàlower
摆bǎihem

下 gives lower and 摆 names the hanging edge of a garment; together they mean the hem.

Characters in this word

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

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →

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 擺; 摆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
罷
罷bà擺bǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擺 has 手 (hand) with 罷 giving the sound bà; the simplified 摆 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 摆 →
Appears in
Clothing

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