建筑群 (jiàn zhù qún) — architectural complex (a group of buildings designed as a unified ensemble)

Definition

noun
architectural complex (a group of buildings designed as a unified ensemble)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 建筑群。
    Zhè ge jiàn zhù qún shì míng cháo xiū jiàn de.
    This architectural complex was built during the Ming dynasty.
  • 建筑群。
    Gù gōng shì yí gè páng dà de jiàn zhù qún.
    The Forbidden City is a vast architectural complex.
  • 建筑群。
    Zhè lǐ xīn jiàn le yí gè shāng yè jiàn zhù qún.
    A new commercial architectural complex was built here.

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.

建筑building
建jiànbuild筑zhùconstruct
联合Side by side
群qúngroup

建筑 gives the building idea and 群 the clustered group.

Characters in this word

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

  • 廴廴yǐn
  • 聿聿yù

The shape 建 shows 廴 and 聿, but it comes from an older drawing of a hand planting a pole into a base; the lower part of 聿 is not a brush.

Open 建 →

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 築; 筑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
筑
筑zhù築zhù
Same sound today

The traditional form 築 pairs 木 (wood) with 筑, which gives the sound; the simplified 筑 is a later shorthand.

Open 筑 →

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
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
君
君jūn群
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

群 pairs 羊, a sheep, to point to a herd or group, with 君 giving the sound.

Open 群 →

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