小脚 (xiǎo jiǎ) — bound feet (the practice of foot binding in old…

Definition

Literally 'small feet,' a euphemism for the bound feet of old China. Figuratively, it labels a timid, conservative man who resists anything new.

noun

bound feet (the practice of foot binding in old China)(metaphor) a timid and conservative person (typically a man)

Measure word · 双

小脚。
Tā de nǎi nai céng jīng guǒ guò xiǎo jiǎ.
Her grandmother once had bound feet.
小脚，。
Tā shì gè xiǎo jiǎ, shén me xīn shì wù dōu bù gǎn cháng shì.
He's a timid man and doesn't dare try anything new.
小脚，！
Bié nà me xiǎo jiǎ, gēn shàng shí dài ba!
Don't be so conservative — keep up with the times!

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.

小 small and 脚 foot name bound feet and, by association, a timid person.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

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 腳; 脚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body

Sound part声符shēngfú

卻

卻què腳jiǎo

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

The traditional form 腳 uses ⺼ for a body part and 卻 for the sound; the simplified 脚 is a later shorthand.

Appears in