曲别针 (qū bié zhēn) — paper clip

Definition

noun
paper clip
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 曲别针。
    Qǐng bāng wǒ ná yí gè qū bié zhēn.
    Please help me get a paper clip.
  • 曲别针。
    Zhè xiē qū bié zhēn shì yòng lái jiá wén jiàn de.
    These paper clips are used to clip documents.
  • 曲别针。
    Wǒ zài chōu ti lǐ zhǎo dào le yí gè qū bié zhēn.
    I found a paper clip in the drawer.

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.

曲qǔbent
别针pin
别biéfasten针zhēnpin
偏正Modifier + head

曲 (bent) shapes 别针 (fastening pin), describing the bent pin used as a clip.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

曲 is drawn as a bent object, matching the meaning 'bend'.

Open 曲 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 別; 别 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 別 pairs 冎 (bone) with 刀 (knife), showing a knife cutting up bone and flesh. The simplified 别 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 别 →

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 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒Written in full as金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
十
十shí針zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 针 →

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