古生物学 (gǔ shēng wù xué) — paleontology

Definition

noun

paleontology

古生物学。
Tā xué xí gǔ shēng wù xué.
He studies paleontology.
古生物学。
Tā duì gǔ shēng wù xué hěn gǎn xìng qù.
She is very interested in paleontology.
古生物学。
gǔ shēng wù xué Yán jiū gǔ dài shēng wù huà shí.
Paleontology studies ancient biological fossils.

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.

古生物ancient organisms

偏正Modifier + head

古生物 points to ancient organisms, and 学 names the field of study.

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.

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

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

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

牛勿物

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

勿

Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

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 學; 学 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 學 may have used 爻 and 六 for sound, with hands and a child added later; the simplified 学 is a shorthand.