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天竺 (Tiān zhú) — (historical) India (used in ancient texts); (botany) nandina, heavenly bamboo

Definition

A historical/classical name for India, used in ancient texts (esp. Buddhist ones). Also a colloquial name for the nandina plant (heavenly bamboo / sacred bamboo).

noun
(historical) India (used in ancient texts)(botany) nandinaheavenly bamboo

Examples

  • 天竺。
    Gǔ dài de rén qù Tiān zhú xué xí fó jiào.
    Ancient people went to India to study Buddhism.
  • 天竺。
    Zhè kē Tiān zhú hěn piào liang.
    This nandina is very beautiful.
  • 天竺。
    Wǒ xǐ huan Tiān zhú de huā.
    I like the flowers of nandina.

Origin

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
大大dà
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng天tiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape comes from a frontal standing man 大 with a head; 天 pairs 大 with 丁 for sound.

Open 天 →

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
二二èr
Sound part声符shēngfú
𥫗
竹zhú竺zhú
Same sound today

竺 puts 二 under 竹: 竹 gives the sound, and 二 is part of the meaning.

Appears in
History

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