星斗 (xīng dǒu) — stars (literary, poetic)

Definition

A literary, poetic word for the stars in the night sky. Use it in writing or expressive prose rather than everyday speech, where 星星 is the neutral choice.

noun
stars (literary, poetic)

Examples

  • ,星斗,。
    Yè kōng zhōng, xīng dǒu shǎn shuò, měi bú shèng shōu.
    In the night sky, the stars twinkle, too beautiful to take in all at once.
  • 星斗。
    Gǔ rén cháng jiè xīng dǒu lái jì tuō zì jǐ de qíng gǎn.
    Ancient people often used the stars to express their emotions.
  • 星斗。
    Mǎn tiān de xīng dǒu xiàng zuàn shí yí yàng cuǐ càn.
    The stars all over the sky are as brilliant as diamonds.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

斗dòudipper

星 means star and 斗 refers to a dipper/star group, together naming stars.

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.

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

Open 星 →

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

The shape of 斗 originally showed a ladle-shaped dipper or cup used to measure grain, held in a hand.

Open 斗 →

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