圆圆 (yuán yuán) — round (reduplicated form, vivid/affectionate description)

Definition

Reduplicated form of 圆 (yuán), used as an adjective before 的 to give a vivid, often affectionate sense of 'round' — for a face, a moon, a ball, and the like.

bound form
round (reduplicated form, vivid/affectionate description)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Tā yǒu yì zhāng yuán yuán de liǎn.
    She has a round face.
  • ，。
    Zhè ge píng guǒ yuán yuán de, kàn qǐ lái hěn hǎo chī.
    This apple is round and looks delicious.
  • ，。
    Yuè liang yuán yuán de, xiàng yí gè dà pán zi.
    The moon is round, like a big plate.

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yuánround
圆yuánround

圆 repeated to give a vivid, affectionate sense of roundness.

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 →

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