希伯来文 (xī bó lái wén) — Hebrew script / writing system; Hebrew language (written form)

Definition

Refers to the Hebrew language and its writing system, as seen in ancient documents and modern study. 文 here stresses the written/script side, often paired with 文献 ('documents') or 词典 ('dictionary').

noun
Hebrew script / writing systemHebrew language (written form)

Examples

  • 希伯来文。
    Tā zhèng zài xué xí xī bó lái wén.
    He is studying Hebrew.
  • 希伯来文。
    Zhè běn xī bó lái wén cí diǎn hěn yǒu yòng.
    This Hebrew dictionary is very useful.
  • 希伯来文。
    Gǔ dài xī bó lái wén wén xiàn jì zǎi le xǔ duō lì shǐ shì jiàn.
    Ancient Hebrew documents recorded many historical events.

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.

希伯来Hebrew
希xī伯bó来lái
音译Transliteration
文wénwriting

希伯来 names Hebrew, and 文 gives the idea of a writing system or language.

Characters in this word

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

希 is made from 爻 and 巾, which means cloth. How those parts connect to “hope” is not explained.

Open 希 →

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
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái伯bó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

伯 pairs 人 (person) with 白, which gives its sound.

Open 伯 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The current form 文 shows a man with head, arms, legs, and chest; the tattoo marks on the chest are no longer drawn.

Open 文 →

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