圆圆的 (yuán yuán de) — (descriptive adjective) round-looking; round and round; round (used with 的)

Definition

Reduplicated form of 圆 meaning 'round and round / roundish' — softer, cuter, more vivid than plain 圆, often describing faces, eyes, or the moon. Used as an adjective before a noun, with 的 attached when it follows one.

adjective
(descriptive adjective) round-lookinground and roundround (used with 的)

Examples

  • 圆圆的，。
    Tā de liǎn yuán yuán de, fēi cháng kě ài.
    Her face is round and very cute.
  • 圆圆的。
    yuán yuán de Yuè liang guà zài tiān shàng.
    The round moon hangs in the sky.
  • 圆圆的。
    Wǒ yǎng le yì zhī yuán yuán de xiǎo māo.
    I have a round little cat.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

圆圆round
圆yuánround圆yuánround
重叠Reduplication
的dedescriptive

The repeated 圆 strengthens the sense of roundness, and 的 lets it describe something.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 圓; 圆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
囗囗wéi
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán圓yuán
Same sound today

This is about the traditional form 圓, not the simplified 圆. In 圓, 囗 surrounds 員, and the inner part of 員 is an old circle picture.

Open 圆 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 圓; 圆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
囗囗wéi
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán圓yuán
Same sound today

This is about the traditional form 圓, not the simplified 圆. In 圓, 囗 surrounds 員, and the inner part of 員 is an old circle picture.

Open 圆 →

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
白白báiwhite
Sound part声符shēngfú
勺
勺sháo的de
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

的 pairs 白, related to white or brightness, with 勺, which gives a clue to the sound. Its older form 旳 meant bright.

Open 的 →

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