战鼓 (zhàn gǔ) — war drum, battle drum | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A war drum is also used figuratively as a metaphor for a rousing, battle-ready call to action (e.g., a speech that 'beats the war drum' for a cause).

noun

war drumbattle drum

Measure word · 面

Examples

，战鼓。
Gǔ shí hou, jūn duì yòng zhàn gǔ jī lì shì bīng.
In ancient times, armies used war drums to inspire soldiers.
战鼓，。
Tā de yǎn jiǎng jiù xiàng qiāo xiǎng le zhàn gǔ, jī lì dà jiā xíng dòng.
His speech was like beating a war drum, inspiring everyone to act.
战鼓。
Bó wù guǎn lǐ chén liè zhe yí miàn gǔ lǎo de zhàn gǔ.
An ancient war drum is displayed in the museum.

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.

“战” (war) and “鼓” (drum) combine as a drum used in war.

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.

占戈战

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

占

占zhàn战zhàn

Same sound today

战 pairs 占, which gives its sound, with 戈, a weapon.

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

壴支鼓

壴壴zhùdrum
支支zhīhand holding drumstick

鼓 combines 壴, a drum, with 支, a hand holding a drumstick, so the character pictures a drum being struck.

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