TongTong
Sign in

帮子 (bāng zi) — outer leaf (of cabbage, etc.); upper (of shoes)

Definition

帮子 (bāngzi) is a measure-word-like noun meaning the tough outer covering of a plant or the upper of a shoe. It pairs specifically with cabbage/leaves (白菜帮子) and shoe uppers (鞋帮子), not a general term for 'outer layer.'

noun
outer leaf (of cabbage, etc.)upper (of shoes)
Measure word · 层

Examples

  • 帮子。
    Zhè kē bái cài de bāng zi hěn hòu.
    The outer leaves of this cabbage are thick.
  • 帮子。
    Zhè shuāng xié de bāng zi shì pí de.
    The upper of these shoes is made of leather.
  • 帮子。
    Tā bǎ bái cài de bāng zi dōu qù diào le.
    He removed all the outer leaves of the cabbage.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

帮bāngside or outer layer
子zǐ

帮 names the side or outer layer, and 子 gives a familiar term for cabbage leaves or shoe uppers.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 幫; 帮 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
帛帛bósilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
封
封fēng幫bāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 帮's traditional form 幫, 帛 (silk) gives the meaning and 封 gives the sound; it originally named the upper part of a shoe.

Open 帮 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Vegetables

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.