嘴唇 (zuǐ chún) — lip | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

嘴唇 refers specifically to the lips (the two soft edges of the mouth). Contrast with 嘴巴, which means the whole mouth including the inside.

noun

lip

Measure word · 片

Examples

嘴唇。
Tā de zuǐ chún hěn piào liang.
Her lips are very pretty.
，嘴唇。
Dōng tiān de shí hou, zuǐ chún róng yì gān.
In winter, lips tend to get dry.
嘴唇。
Chī fàn hòu yào cā yi cā zuǐ chún.
After eating, wipe your lips.

Origin

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.

嘴 points to the mouth, 唇 to the lip; together they mean lip.

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.

口觜嘴

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

觜

觜zī嘴

Same sound today

嘴 pairs 口 (mouth) with 觜, which supplies its sound.

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

辰口唇

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

辰

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

唇 is built from 口, meaning mouth, and 辰, which points to its sound.

Appears in

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