卷曲 (juǎn qǔ) — to curl; to crimp; to twist into a curled shape | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Verb for something bending or twisting into a curled or crimped shape (hair, wire, leaves). Often appears with 起来 (卷曲起来) to mark the change of state.

verb

to curlto crimpto twist into a curled shape

Examples

，卷曲。
Tā de tóu fa hěn piào liang, tiān shēng jiù juǎn qǔ.
Her hair is beautiful; it's naturally curly.
卷曲。
Tā yòng qián zi bǎ tiě sī juǎn qǔ le.
He used pliers to crimp the wire.
卷曲。
Gān zào de tiān qì ràng yè zi juǎn qǔ qǐ lái.
The dry weather makes the leaves curl up.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

卷 suggests curling and 曲 suggests bending, together meaning to curl or crimp.

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.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

曲 is drawn as a bent object, matching the meaning 'bend'.

Appears in

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