卷尺 (juǎn chǐ) — tape measure | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

tape measure

Measure word · 把

卷尺。
Qǐng yòng juǎn chǐ liáng yí xià zhè ge fáng jiān de cháng dù.
Please use a tape measure to measure the length of this room.
卷尺。
Tā bǎ juǎn chǐ fàng jìn gōng jù xiāng lǐ le.
He put the tape measure into the toolbox.
卷尺，。
Mǎi yì bǎ xīn de juǎn chǐ ba, jiù de huài le.
Buy a new tape measure; the old one is broken.

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.

A 尺 that can be 卷, a flexible ruler for measuring.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

卩卩jiékneeling person

Sound part声符shēngfú

𢍏

𢍏𢍏卷juàn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 卷, 卩 shows a kneeling person, while 𢍏 gives the sound and may also suggest bending or rolling, as in a reel of books.

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

The shape is thought to picture a hand with the thumb and middle finger spread apart, like a natural ruler for measuring length.