拱形 (gǒng xíng) — arch (architectural shape)

Definition

noun
arch (architectural shape)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 拱形。
    Zhè zuò qiáo shì gǒng xíng de.
    This bridge is arched.
  • 拱形。
    Jiào táng de chuāng hu shì gǒng xíng de.
    The church windows are arched.
  • 拱形。
    Zhè ge jiàn zhù yǒu gǒng xíng de wū dǐng.
    This building has an arched roof.

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.

拱gǒngarch
形xíngshape

The shape named 形 is described by 拱, the arched curve.

Characters in this word

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

The shape 拱 combines 扌, a hand, with 共, which shows the pronunciation.

Open 拱 →

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
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
井
井jǐng形xíng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

形 is made from 彡 and 井, with 井 providing the sound.

Open 形 →

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