布条 (bù tiáo) — strip of cloth

Definition

noun
strip of cloth
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 布条。
    Tā yòng bù tiáo bǎ shāng kǒu bāo zā hǎo le.
    He used a cloth strip to bandage the wound.
  • 布条，。
    Dì shàng yǒu jǐ tiáo bù tiáo, kě néng shì cóng yī fu shàng sī xià lái de.
    There are a few cloth strips on the floor, maybe torn from clothes.
  • 。
    Cái feng yòng bù tiáo liáng le liáng chǐ cùn.
    The tailor measured the size with a cloth strip.

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.

布bùcloth
条tiáostrip

布 supplies the material and 条 supplies the strip shape, forming a strip of cloth.

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
巾巾jīnkerchief
Sound part声符shēngfú
父
父fù布bù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

Open 布 →

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 條; 条 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
攸
攸yōu條tiáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 條 pairs 木, a small branch or stick, with 攸, which shows a person warned by a hand holding a stick, as a sound part; 条 is a later shortened shape.

Open 条 →

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