TongTong
Sign in

地图 (dì tú) — map

Definition

地图 specifically means a geographical map. 图 is the broader word for any picture, drawing, or chart; 图表 refers to a data chart or diagram.

noun
map
Measure word · 张, 本

Examples

  • 地图。
    Wǒ mǎi le yì zhāng xīn dì tú.
    I bought a new map.
  • 地图？
    Nǐ néng yòng zhè zhāng dì tú zhǎo dào nà ge dì fāng ma?
    Can you use this map to find that place?
  • 。
    Zhè běn dì tú shì zhōng wén de.
    This map book is in Chinese.

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.

地dìarea
图túdrawing

地 refers to earth or area, 图 to drawing; together they mean a map of an area.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 圖; 图 is its simplified writing.

  • 囗囗wéiwalled city
  • 啚啚bǐ

The traditional form 圖 pairs 囗, a walled city, with 啚, an early form meaning remote areas or territory. The simplified 图 is a later abbreviation.

Open 图 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3HSK 2.0 Level 3Directions3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 3 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.