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探子 (tàn zǐ) — spy, scout, detective; food-sampling probe

Definition

A 探子 is a person sent out to secretly gather information — a scout or spy. In cooking it refers to a small probe used to sample food (e.g. tasting soup), the same word applied to the tool rather than a person.

noun
spyscoutdetectivefood-sampling probe
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 探子，。
    Tā shì jūn duì pài chū de tàn zǐ, zhuān mén shōu jí qíng bào.
    He is a scout sent by the military, specializing in gathering intelligence.
  • 探子，。
    Zhè wèi tàn zǐ qián rù dí yíng, huò dé le zhòng yào xìn xī.
    This spy infiltrated the enemy camp and obtained vital information.
  • 探子。
    Lǎo chú shī yòng tàn zǐ cháng le yí xià tāng de wèi dào.
    The old chef used a sampling probe to taste the soup's flavor.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

探tànprobe
子zǐ

探 means 'probe', and 子 names a person or thing associated with probing.

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
𥥍
𥥍𥥍探tàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 探, the 扌 part is a hand, and 𥥍 gives the sound.

Open 探 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Military & DefenseProfessions & Jobs

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