断肢 (duàn zhī) — (noun) severed limb; (verb-object) to sever a limb

Definition

A medical term meaning a severed or amputated limb (noun), or the action of severing one (verb). As a verb-object phrase, the verb 断 can be reduplicated or placed before 肢, as in 断了肢.

noun
severed limb(verb-object) to sever a limb
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 断肢。
    Yī shēng chéng gōng dì bǎ duàn zhī jiē shàng le.
    The doctor successfully reattached the severed limb.
  • 。
    Chē huò dǎo zhì tā duàn le zhī.
    The car accident caused him to have a limb severed.
  • 断肢。
    duàn zhī Zài zhí shǒu shù xū yào gāo chāo de jì shù.
    Severed limb replantation surgery requires superb skill.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

断duànsever
肢zhīlimb

断, meaning sever, and 肢, meaning limb, together mean severing a limb or a severed limb.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Open 断 →

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
肉肉ròuflesh
Sound part声符shēngfú
支
支zhī肢zhī
Same sound today

肢 pairs 肉 (flesh) with 支, which gives the sound.

Open 肢 →

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