北极星 (Běi jí xīng) — North Star; Polaris | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

North StarPolaris

Measure word · 颗

Examples

，北极星。
Wǎn shàng mí lù shí, kě yǐ kào Běi jí xīng biàn bié fāng xiàng.
When lost at night, you can use the North Star to tell direction.
，北极星。
Zài gǔ dài, Běi jí xīng shì háng hǎi zhě zuì zhòng yào de zhǐ yǐn.
In ancient times, the North Star was the most important guide for sailors.
，北极星。
Jí shǐ méi yǒu zhǐ nán zhēn, zhǎo dào Běi jí xīng yě néng què dìng běi fāng.
Even without a compass, finding the North Star can determine the north.

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.

北极north pole

北běinorth极jípole

偏正Modifier + head

北极 names the north pole and 星 is a star, so 北极星 is the star near the north.

Characters in this word

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

The form 北 shows two people standing back to back. It originally meant 'back'.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

木及极

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree, wood

Sound part声符shēngfú

及

及jí极jí

Same sound today

极 pairs 木 (tree, wood) with 及, which provides the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

晶晶jīngtwinkling stars
生生shēng

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

Appears in

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