哈达 (hǎ dá) — ceremonial silk scarf (used in Tibetan and Mongolian cultures as a symbol of respect and blessing)

Definition

A ceremonial silk scarf presented as a gift in Tibetan and Mongolian culture — the white version is the most common and symbolizes purity and respect, traditionally offered to guests, elders, or at weddings.

noun
ceremonial silk scarf (used in Tibetan and Mongolian cultures as a symbol of respect and blessing)
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 哈达。
    Tā gěi kè rén xiàn shàng le yì tiáo bái sè de hǎ dá.
    He presented a white hada scarf to the guest.
  • ，哈达。
    Zài xī zàng, hǎ dá shì biǎo dá jìng yì de zhòng yào lǐ wù.
    In Tibet, the hada is an important gift to express respect.
  • ，哈达。
    Hūn lǐ shàng, zhǎng bèi men wèi xīn rén guà shàng le hǎ dá.
    At the wedding, the elders hung hada scarves on the newlyweds.

Origin

Single-morpheme word
构词法gòucífǎ
音译yīnyìTransliteration

The characters spell the sound of a foreign word; their individual meanings play no part.

哈hā
达dá

哈 and 达 carry no meaning here; 哈达 spells a loan word for a ceremonial silk scarf.

Sound-only characters

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
合
合hé哈hā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

哈 uses 口 (mouth) to show a mouth-related idea, and 合 as a sound part. The shape of 合 may look like two open mouths, but that is likely by chance.

Open 哈 →

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
大
大dà达dá
Same sound today

This form 达 pairs 辶 (written in full as 辵) with 大 as a sound component.

Open 达 →

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