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中东地区 (zhōng dōng dì qū) — the Middle East (region)

Definition

noun
the Middle East (region)

Examples

  • 中东地区。
    zhōng dōng dì qū De jú shì yì zhí hěn jǐn zhāng.
    The situation in the Middle East has always been tense.
  • 中东地区。
    Tā céng jīng zài zhōng dōng dì qū gōng zuò guò liǎng nián.
    He once worked in the Middle East for two years.
  • 中东地区。
    zhōng dōng dì qū De wén huà fēi cháng fēng fù duō yàng.
    The culture of the Middle East is very rich and diverse.

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.

中东Middle East
中zhōngmiddle东dōngeast
偏正Modifier + head
地区region
地dìregion区qūarea
联合Coordinate

“中东” is the Middle East and “地区” is a region, together the Middle East region.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 東; 东 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 東 originally drew a full bag tied at both ends. The simplified 东 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 东 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 區; 区 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 區 is made from 匸 and 品; the simplified 区 is a shorthand.

Open 区 →
Appears in
Geography & Landforms

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