书展 (shū zhǎn) — book fair; book exhibition

Definition

noun

book fairbook exhibition

Measure word · 个

Easily confused

书展。
Wǒ měi nián dōu qù cān jiā běi jīng guó jì shū zhǎn.
I go to the Beijing International Book Fair every year.
书展。
Zhè cì shū zhǎn xī yǐn le hěn duō chū bǎn shè hé dú zhě.
This book fair attracted many publishers and readers.
书展。
Tā zài shū zhǎn shàng mǎi le jǐ běn qiān míng shū.
He bought a few signed books at the book fair.

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.

展zhǎnexhibition

“书” (books) specifies the kind of “展” (exhibition).

Characters in this word

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 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

聿聿yùwriting brush

Sound part声符shēngfú

者

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

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

𧝑

𧝑𧝑展zhǎn

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

展 is built from 尸 and 𧝑. The 𧝑 part points to fine red silk clothes and also contains the idea of opening or extending.