四季豆 (sì jì dòu) — green bean; string bean

Definition

noun

green beanstring bean

Measure word · 根

四季豆。
Jīn tiān chāo shì de sì jì dòu hěn xīn xiān.
The green beans at the supermarket today are very fresh.
四季豆。
Mā ma yòng sì jì dòu chǎo le yì pán cài.
Mom stir-fried a plate of green beans.
四季豆。
Wǒ xǐ huan chī qīng chǎo sì jì dòu.
I like to eat plain stir-fried green beans.

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.

四季four seasons

偏正Modifier + head

四季 gives the all-season idea, and 豆 names the bean.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 四 was drawn as a nose breathing out. It later came to be used for the word four.

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

禾子季

季 is formed by placing 禾 above 子.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

豆 originally drew some kind of container. It was borrowed for its sound to write the plant name, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.