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回教徒 (huí jiào tú) — Muslim; follower of Islam

Definition

A traditional/religious term for a Muslim (literally 'follower of Islam'). In everyday Chinese, 穆斯林 is far more common today; 回教徒 sounds more literary or community-internal, often used by Muslims referring to themselves.

noun
Muslimfollower of Islam
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 回教徒。
    Tā shì yí gè huí jiào tú.
    He is a Muslim.
  • 回教徒。
    huí jiào tú Měi tiān yào zuò wǔ cì lǐ bài.
    Muslims pray five times a day.
  • 回教徒。
    Zhè zuò qīng zhēn sì shì dāng dì huí jiào tú de jù huì chǎng suǒ.
    This mosque is the gathering place for local Muslims.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

回教Islam
回huíHui教jiàoreligion
偏正Modifier + head
徒túfollower

回教 names Islam, and 徒 marks a follower of it.

Characters in this word

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

回 comes from a drawing of a spiral, showing something turning around.

Open 回 →

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
子子zǐchild
攵Written in full as攴pūteaching cane; stick that represents authority
Sound part声符shēngfú
爻
爻yáo教jiào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

教 uses 爻 for its sound and puts 子 (child) with 攵 (攴), a teaching cane, to show teaching a child.

Open 教 →

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
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
土
土tǔ徒tú
Same sound today

徒 originally paired 辵, a walking sign, with 土 to show its sound. The shape later changed into 彳 and 走.

Open 徒 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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