墙角 (qiáng jiǎo) — corner (formed by two walls) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally the corner where two walls meet, distinct from 角 (corner in general) or 角落 (any corner, inside or outside). Often used for tucked-away, hidden, or neglected spaces.

noun

corner (formed by two walls)

Measure word · 个

Examples

墙角。
Tā bǎ zhuō zi tuī dào qiáng jiǎo.
He pushed the table into the corner.
墙角。
qiáng jiǎo Lǐ fàng zhe yì bǎ jiù yǐ zi.
An old chair is placed in the corner.
墙角。
Zhè ge fáng jiān de qiáng jiǎo yǒu hěn duō huī chén.
There is a lot of dust in the corner of this room.

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.

墙 means wall and 角 means corner, naming the corner formed by two walls.

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 牆; 墙 is its simplified writing.

爿嗇牆

Meaning part形符xíngfú

嗇嗇sèwheat in a granary

Sound part声符shēngfú

爿

爿pán牆qiáng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 牆, 爿 gives the sound and 嗇, showing wheat in a granary, gives the wall meaning. The simplified 墙 is a later short form.

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

The form 角 is a picture of a horn.

Appears in

Buildings & Structures Home & Housing

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.