扁平足 (biǎn píng zú) — flat feet, fallen arches (medical condition)

Definition

A medical term for flat feet (fallen arches). Used mostly in clinical or formal contexts; in everyday speech people usually just say 脚平 or describe the symptom.

noun
flat feetfallen arches (medical condition)

Examples

  • 扁平足，。
    Tā yīn wèi biǎn píng zú, zǒu lù shí jiān cháng le jiǎo huì téng.
    Because of his flat feet, his feet hurt when he walks for a long time.
  • 扁平足。
    Yī shēng shuō biǎn píng zú de rén yào zhù yì xuǎn hé shì de xié zi.
    The doctor said people with flat feet should be careful to choose suitable shoes.
  • 扁平足，。
    biǎn píng zú Zài ér tóng zhōng hěn cháng jiàn, hěn duō huì zì jǐ gǎi shàn.
    Flat feet are common in children — many improve on their own.

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.

扁平flat
扁biǎnflat平pínglevel
联合Side by side
足zúfoot

扁 and 平 both describe a level, flattened shape, and 足 is the foot; the word names a flattened arch condition.

Characters in this word

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

  • 戶戶hùdoor
  • 冊冊cèbamboo tablets

扁 is made from 戶 (door) and 冊 (bamboo tablets), giving the idea of inscribing on a door or of two flat, thin things.

Open 扁 →

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

The origin is uncertain. One explanation combines 八 (division) and 亏 (exhaled air) to show smooth speech.

Open 平 →

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

足 was originally drawn as a leg.

Open 足 →

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