打地铺 (dǎ dì pù) — to make a bed on the floor/ground (verb-object phrase)

Definition

打地铺 is a verb-object phrase meaning 'to make a bed on the floor/ground', usually with a mat, blanket, or bedding (地铺). Often used when space is tight or for overnight guests.

verb
to make a bed on the floor/ground (verb-object phrase)

Examples

  • ，打地铺。
    Kè rén lái le, wǒ men zhǐ hǎo dǎ dì pù.
    The guests came, so we had to make floor beds.
  • ，。
    Zuó wǎn wǒ men dǎ le yí gè dì pù, shuì dé hěn shū fu.
    Last night we made a floor bed and slept very comfortably.
  • ，打地铺。
    Sù shè tài xiǎo, tā měi tiān wǎn shàng dōu dǎ dì pù.
    The dorm is too small, so he makes a floor bed every night.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

打dǎmake
地铺bed on the floor
地dìfloor/ground铺pùbed
偏正Modifier + head

打 means make, and 地铺 means a bed on the floor, so it describes making a bed on the ground.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng打dǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

Open 打 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →

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 鋪; 铺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīngold; metal
Sound part声符shēngfú
甫
甫fǔ鋪pū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鋪 pairs 金 (gold; metal) with 甫 as a sound part; the simplified 铺 is a shorthand.

Open 铺 →

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