卧室 (wò shì) — bedroom | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A private bedroom, typically in a home or apartment. 寝室 is the broader term, also used for shared dormitory rooms in schools or workplaces.

noun

bedroom

Measure word · 间

Examples

卧室。
Wǒ de wò shì hěn shū fu.
My bedroom is very comfortable.
卧室。
Tā zū le yì jiān wò shì.
He rented a bedroom.
卧室，。
wò shì De chuāng hu hěn dà, yáng guāng hěn hǎo.
The bedroom windows are big, and the sunlight is nice.

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.

卧 for lying or sleeping and 室 for room combine as a bedroom.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臥; 卧 is its simplified writing.

臣人臥

臣臣chéneye pointing down
人人rénperson

The traditional form 臥 pairs 臣 (an eye pointing down) with 人 (a person).

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

宀至室

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

至

至zhì室shì

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

室 puts 宀 (roof) over 至, the spot where someone stops, giving the meaning of a house or residence.

Appears in

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