乘法表 (chéng fǎ biǎo) — multiplication table

Definition

noun

multiplication table

Measure word · 张

乘法表。
Xiǎo xué shēng bì xū bèi shú chéng fǎ biǎo.
Elementary school students must memorize the multiplication table.
乘法表。
Tā yòng chéng fǎ biǎo liàn xí kuài sù jì suàn.
He uses the multiplication table to practice quick calculations.
乘法表。
Lǎo shī bǎ chéng fǎ biǎo tiē zài jiào shì qiáng shàng.
The teacher posted the multiplication table on the classroom wall.

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.

乘法multiplication method

偏正Modifier + head

“乘法” (multiplication method) specifies the kind of “表” (table).

Characters in this word

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

乘 was drawn as a person climbing a tree, with the feet visible.

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

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid

Sound part声符shēngfú

盍

盍hé法fǎ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

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

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.