喙 (huì) — (bound form, literary) beak of a bird; snout of an animal; (bound form, figurative) mouth (of a person, often with a derogatory or literary tone)
Definition
Literary, bound-form word for an animal's beak or snout — used only after a modifier (e.g. 鸟喙, 豚喙). Figuratively can mean a person's 'mouth' in a dismissive tone (as in 置喙 'interject').
bound form
(bound form, literary) beak of a birdsnout of an animal(bound form, figurative) mouth (of a person, often with a derogatory or literary tone)
Examples
- 喙。Zhè zhī niǎo de niǎo huì yòu cháng yòu jiān.This bird's beak is long and sharp.
- 喙。Cǐ shì wú xū tā rén zhì huì.This matter requires no input from others.
- 喙。Hǎi tún de huì bù fēi cháng líng mǐn.A dolphin's snout is very sensitive.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
彖
彖tuàn喙huì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
喙 pairs 口 (mouth) with 彖, which gives the sound. The 口 part shows the meaning relates to a mouth or beak.
Appears in
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