唐宁街 (Táng níng jiē) — Downing Street (London, seat of the British Pri…

Definition

noun

Downing Street (London, seat of the British Prime Minister's official residence)

唐宁街。
Yīng guó shǒu xiàng guān dǐ jiù zài Táng níng jiē.
The British Prime Minister's official residence is on Downing Street.
唐宁街。
Zuó tiān Táng níng jiē mén kǒu jù jí le hěn duō jì zhě.
Many reporters gathered at the gate of Downing Street yesterday.
唐宁街。
Tā céng zài Táng níng jiē gōng zuò guò sān nián.
He once worked at Downing Street for three years.

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

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

庚

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

唐 pairs 庚, a picture of a hollow instrument, with 口 as a distinguishing mark; the shape is based on hollowness or openness.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寧; 宁 is its simplified writing.

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

圭

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

街 combines 行 and 圭: 行 is the meaning part, and 圭 is the sound part. Originally, 圭 drew a pair of ritual axes, not earth.

Appears in