墓志铭 (mù zhì míng) — epitaph (inscription on a tombstone or memorial tablet)

Definition

A formal inscription carved on a tombstone or memorial tablet, summarizing the deceased's life or character. A piece of literary writing in its own right, not just a label.

noun
epitaph (inscription on a tombstone or memorial tablet)

Examples

  • 墓志铭。
    Zhè kuài shí bēi shàng kè zhe yí wèi shī rén de mù zhì míng.
    This stone tablet bears the epitaph of a poet.
  • 墓志铭。
    Kǎo gǔ xué jiā fā xiàn le yí kuài táng dài de mù zhì míng.
    Archaeologists discovered a Tang dynasty epitaph.
  • 墓志铭。
    Tā de mù zhì míng shàng zhī xiě le jiǎn dān de jǐ jù huà.
    His epitaph only has a few simple sentences on it.

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.

墓志tomb record
墓mùtomb志zhìrecord
偏正Modifier + head
铭mínginscription

墓志 (tomb record) specifies 铭 (inscription), together naming a tomb inscription.

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tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
莫
莫mò墓mù
Same sound today

墓 combines 土 (earth) and 莫 (sound).

Open 墓 →

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
心心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī志zhì
Same sound today

志 has 心, the heart, below and a simplified top from 之 for sound.

Open 志 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 銘; 铭 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 銘 has 金 (metal) and 名 (name), and refers to engraving in metal; the simplified 铭 is a later shorthand.

Open 铭 →

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