古兰经 (gǔ lán jīng) — Koran (the Islamic holy book)

Definition

noun
Koran (the Islamic holy book)
Measure word · 本

Examples

  • 古兰经。
    Tā měi tiān dōu dú gǔ lán jīng.
    He reads the Koran every day.
  • 古兰经。
    Zhè běn gǔ lán jīng shì zhōng wén de.
    This copy of the Koran is in Chinese.
  • 古兰经。
    gǔ lán jīng Shì yī sī lán jiào de jīng diǎn.
    The Koran is the scripture of Islam.

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.

古兰Koran
古gǔ兰lán
音译Transliteration
经jīngscripture

“古兰” spells Koran and “经” means scripture, so it names the Koran scripture.

Characters in this word

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

One reading of 古 sees a shield-like shape above an open mark, showing strength and firmness. Another sees a person spitting out bad-tasting food.

Open 古 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 蘭; 兰 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎoplant
Sound part声符shēngfú
闌
闌lán蘭lán
Same sound today

In the traditional form 蘭, 艹 marks it as a plant and 闌 stands for the sound; the simplified 兰 is a later shorthand, not the original parts.

Open 兰 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

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