主语 (zhǔ yǔ) — (grammar) subject | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

(grammar) subject

主语“”。
Zhè ge jù zi de zhǔ yǔ shì "māo".
The subject of this sentence is 'cat'.
，主语。
Zài hàn yǔ lǐ, zhǔ yǔ tōng cháng fàng zài dòng cí qián miàn.
In Chinese, the subject is usually placed before the verb.
主语。
Liǎo jiě yí gè jù zi de zhǔ yǔ hé wèi yǔ shì xué yǔ fǎ de jī chǔ.
Understanding the subject and predicate of a sentence is the foundation of learning grammar.

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.

主zhǔprincipal

语yǔlanguage unit

主 conveys 'principal' and 语 conveys 'language unit'; 主语 names the principal sentence component.

Characters in this word

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

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

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 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

言吾語

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

吾

Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.