安的列斯群岛 (ān dì liè sī qún dǎo) — the Antilles (archipelago in the Caribbean)

Definition

Proper noun: the Antilles, the Caribbean island arc split into the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico) and the Lesser Antilles.

noun
the Antilles (archipelago in the Caribbean)

Examples

  • ，安的列斯群岛。
    Jiā lè bǐ hǎi zhōng yǒu xǔ duō dǎo yǔ, bāo kuò ān dì liè sī qún dǎo.
    There are many islands in the Caribbean Sea, including the Antilles.
  • 安的列斯群岛。
    ān dì liè sī qún dǎo Fēn wéi dà ān dì liè sī qún dǎo hé xiǎo ān dì liè sī qún dǎo.
    The Antilles are divided into the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles.
  • 1492安的列斯群岛。
    Gē lún bù zài 1492 nián dào dá le ān dì liè sī qún dǎo.
    Columbus reached the Antilles in 1492.

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.

安的列斯Antilles
安ān的de列liè斯sī
群岛archipelago
群qúngroup岛dǎoisland
偏正Modifier + head

“安的列斯” spells Antilles and “群岛” means archipelago, together naming the Antilles archipelago.

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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ安ān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 安, 宀 sits above a seated 女 on a cushion; 宀 is the meaning part, 女 is the sound part, and the character originally meant sitting at ease.

Open 安 →

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
白白báiwhite
Sound part声符shēngfú
勺
勺sháo的de
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

的 pairs 白, related to white or brightness, with 勺, which gives a clue to the sound. Its older form 旳 meant bright.

Open 的 →

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

列 combines 歹, drawn as skeletal remains, and 刀, a knife, to depict tearing apart.

Open 列 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 斯 →

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
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
君
君jūn群
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

群 pairs 羊, a sheep, to point to a herd or group, with 君 giving the sound.

Open 群 →

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 島; 岛 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
鳥
鳥niǎo島dǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 島 uses 山, meaning mountain, and 鳥 for the sound. The simplified 岛 is a later shorthand.

Open 岛 →

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