丛 (cóng) — (classifier) for clusters of plants, bushes, grass, or hair; (classifier) for collections of books (used in 丛书, though 套 is more common as the actual measure word)
Definition
A literary measure word for a cluster of plants, bushes, or hair (一丛玫瑰). It also appears in book-related compounds like 丛书, but 套 is the usual measure word for a book set.
classifier
for clusters of plantsbushesgrassor hairfor collections of books (used in 丛书, though 套 is more common as the actual measure word)
Examples
- 丛。Huā yuán lǐ yǒu yì cóng méi gui.There is a cluster of roses in the garden.
- 丛。Tā tóu shàng yǒu yì cóng bái fà.He has a patch of white hair on his head.
- 丛。Chuāng tái shàng yǒu yì cóng huā cǎo.There is a cluster of flowers on the windowsill.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 叢; 丛 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
丵丵zhuó
Sound part声符shēngfú
取
取qǔ叢cóng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 叢 for 丛 combines 丵 with 取, where 取 gives the sound.
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