可乐 (kě lè) — cola (carbonated soft drink)

Definition

noun

cola (carbonated soft drink)

Measure word · 瓶

，可乐。
Tiān qì hěn rè, wǒ xiǎng hē yì píng kě lè.
The weather is hot, I want to drink a bottle of cola.
可乐。
Tā zài chāo shì mǎi le liǎng guàn kě lè.
He bought two cans of cola at the supermarket.
可乐。
Zhè jiā diàn de kě lè bǐ bié de pián yi.
The cola at this store is cheaper than others.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

丂

丂kǎo可kě

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

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樂; 乐 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 樂, 絲 (string) with 木 (wood) shows strings on a piece of wood, a musical instrument; the simplified 乐 is a later shorthand.

Appears in