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下部 (xià bù) — lower part (of an object, document, or structure); private parts (euphemism for genitals)

Definition

Literary/formal way to say 'the lower part' of a book, building, or body. The second sense ('private parts') is a polite euphemism for genitals.

noun
lower part (of an object, document, or structure)private parts (euphemism for genitals)

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè zuò shān xià bù yǒu pù bù.
    There is a waterfall at the lower part of this mountain.
  • 下部。
    Yī shēng jiǎn chá le tā de xià bù.
    The doctor examined her private parts.
  • 下部。
    Qǐng bǎ wén jiàn xià bù de nèi róng zài xiū gǎi yí xià.
    Please revise the content in the lower part of the document again.

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
部bùpart

下部 joins 下 ('lower') with 部 ('part'), so it names the lower section.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
邑邑yì
Sound part声符shēngfú
咅
咅pǒu部bù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

部 pairs 咅, which gives the sound, with 邑. It originally named a place in today's Gansu.

Open 部 →
Appears in
Body Parts

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