卡子 (qiǎ zi) — clip; fastener; hairpin; checkpost; checkpoint (often pronounced qiǎ zi)

Definition

卡子 (kǎzi) covers both small physical clips (paper, hair, documents) and a checkpoint/post on a road. The 'clip' sense is everyday; the 'checkpoint' sense (also pronounced qiǎzi) is less common in modern use.

noun
clipfastenerhairpincheckpostcheckpoint (often pronounced qiǎ zi)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 卡子。
    Tā yòng qiǎ zi bǎ tóu fa jiā qǐ lái le.
    She clipped her hair up with a hairpin.
  • 卡子，。
    Zhè zhǒng qiǎ zi kě yǐ gù dìng zhǐ zhāng, bú huì diào xià lái.
    This kind of clip can hold paper in place without falling off.
  • 卡子。
    Jìn rù kuàng qū zhī qián yào jīng guò yí gè qiǎ zi jiǎn chá.
    Before entering the mining area, you must go through a checkpoint inspection.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

卡kǎclip
子zǐ

卡 points to a clip or a place where something is held, and 子 gives the everyday name for such a thing.

Characters in this word

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

卡 is made from 上 (up) and 下 (down), with their horizontal lines fused, showing something squeezed between above and below.

Open 卡 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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