对虾 (duì xiā) — prawn

Definition

对虾 (duìxiā) is a specific kind of large prawn (sold whole, often steamed or stir-fried), not the generic term for shrimp — for that use 虾. The 对 literally means 'paired,' referring to the traditional practice of selling them in matched pairs.

noun
prawn
Measure word · 只

Examples

  • 对虾。
    Zhè dào cài yòng de shì xīn xiān duì xiā.
    This dish uses fresh prawns.
  • 对虾。
    duì xiā De jià gé bǐ xiā rén guì yì xiē.
    The price of prawns is a bit more expensive than shrimp meat.
  • 对虾。
    Tā diǎn le yì pán qīng zhēng duì xiā.
    He ordered a plate of steamed prawns.

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.

对duìpair
虾xiāshrimp

对 (pair) and 虾 (shrimp) name a shrimp often sold in pairs.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 對; 对 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 對, the shape comes from an early drawing of 丵 (a digging tool), 土 (earth), and 又 (a hand); it may have meant developing land.

Open 对 →

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 蝦; 虾 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
虫虫chónginsect
Sound part声符shēngfú
叚
叚jiǎ蝦xiā
Same sound today

In the traditional form 蝦, 虫 is the insect part and 叚 is the sound part; the simplified 虾 is a later abbreviation.

Open 虾 →

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