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写字台 (xiě zì tái) — writing desk; desk (for office or study use)

Definition

noun
writing deskdesk (for office or study use)
Measure word · 张

Examples

  • 写字台。
    Wǒ bàn gōng shì de xiě zì tái hěn kuān dà.
    The desk in my office is very spacious.
  • 写字台。
    Tā bǎ wén jiàn dōu duī zài xiě zì tái shàng le.
    He piled all the documents on the desk.
  • 写字台。
    Zhè zhāng xiě zì tái shì yòng shí mù zuò de.
    This desk is made of solid wood.

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.

写字write characters
写xiěwrite字zìcharacter
动宾Verb + object
台táidesk

A desk for writing characters: 写字 describes the use of the 台.

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 寫; 写 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
舄
舄xì寫xiě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寫 combines 宀 with 舄 for the sound; this note is about 寫, not the simplified 写.

Open 写 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臺; 台 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 台 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (窗台, 电视台) it is 臺; in others (台灯, 台球) (台风) it is 檯 or 台 or 颱.

The traditional form 臺 is the 喬 + 室 form; earlier versions combined a sound part with 室, and an old reading saw it as a watch tower.

Open 台 →
Appears in
FurnitureWorkplace & Office

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