四肢 (sì zhī) — the four limbs (arms and legs) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally 'four limbs' — arms and legs as a set. 肢体 is broader, covering limbs and the torso, and is the formal/anatomical term.

noun

the four limbs (arms and legs)

Examples

，四肢。
Tā xǐ huan pǎo bù, yīn wèi kě yǐ duàn liàn sì zhī.
He likes running because it exercises the limbs.
，四肢。
Tiān qì hěn lěng, chū mén qián qǐng bǎo hù hǎo sì zhī.
The weather is very cold; before going out, please protect your limbs.
四肢，。
Tā de sì zhī hěn cháng, tiào wǔ hěn hǎo kàn.
Her limbs are long; she looks beautiful dancing.

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.

四 and 肢 together name the arms and legs as one group.

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.

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

肉肉ròuflesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

支

支zhī肢zhī

Same sound today

肢 pairs 肉 (flesh) with 支, which gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Body Parts

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