封底 (fēng dǐ) — back cover (of a book)

Definition

The back cover of a book or magazine. Contrast with 封面 (the front cover); together they describe a book's exterior.

noun
back cover (of a book)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 封底。
    Zhè běn shū de fēng dǐ shè jì dé hěn yǒu tè sè.
    The back cover of this book is designed with distinctive character.
  • 封底。
    fēng dǐ Shàng yìn zhe zuò zhě jiǎn jiè hé shū píng.
    The back cover has the author's bio and book reviews printed on it.
  • 封底。
    Tā bǎ fēng dǐ shàng de tiáo xíng mǎ sǎo miáo le yí xià.
    He scanned the barcode on the back cover.

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.

封fēngcover
底dǐback

封 names the cover, and 底 points to its back side.

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tǔearth
寸寸cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
丰
丰fēng封fēng
Same sound today

The shape 封 is 丰 plus 土 (earth) plus 寸 (hand); 丰 was originally drawn as a tree seedling.

Open 封 →

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
广广guǎngbuilding
Sound part声符shēngfú
氐
氐dī底dǐ
Same sound today

底 pairs 广 (building) with 氐, pointing to the bottom or foundation of a building. Some read 氐 as a bowing figure or tree root, adding a sense of 'down'.

Open 底 →

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