侣 (lǚ) — (bound form) companion; partner
Definition
侣 (lǚ) is a bound form meaning 'companion' or 'partner' — it only appears as the second character in compounds like 伴侣 or 情侣. Standalone 伴 alone already carries the meaning.
bound form
companionpartner
Easily confused
- 铝lǚlook-alikealuminum
- 旅lǚsound-aliketravel (bound form, used in compounds like 旅行 and 旅游)
- 吕lǚlook-alikesurname Lǚ
- 缕lǚsound-alike(classifier) for slender, wispy things: strands (of hair), wisps (of smoke/mist), beams (of light), puffs (of fragrance)
- 屡lǚsound-alikerepeatedly, time and again (formal/literary; commonly used in 屡次)
- 履lǚsound-alike(bound form) shoes
Examples
- 。Tā men shì duō nián lái de hǎo bàn lǚ.They have been good companions for many years.
- 。Zhè duì qíng lǚ zài gōng yuán lǐ sàn bù.This couple is taking a walk in the park.
- 。Dòng wù shì rén lèi zhōng shí de bàn lǚ.Animals are loyal companions of humans.
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 侶; 侣 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
呂
呂lǚ侶lǚ
Same sound today
The traditional form 侶 is made from 人 (person) and 呂; 人 gives the companion meaning and 呂 gives the sound.
Appears in
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