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条子 (tiáo zi) — strip of paper; (informal) a brief written note or memo; (colloquial) gold bar

Definition

条子 most literally means a thin strip of paper. Figuratively it is a colloquial/slangy term for a gold bar — a high-value, everyday metaphor, not a formal word.

noun
strip of paper(informal) a brief written note or memo(colloquial) gold bar
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 条子，。
    Qǐng zài zhǐ shàng xiě yí gè tiáo zi, tí xǐng wǒ xià wǔ kāi huì.
    Please write a note on the paper to remind me of the afternoon meeting.
  • 条子。
    Tā yòng tiáo zi huàn le yì bǐ qián.
    He exchanged a gold bar for a sum of money.
  • 条子。
    Bǎ zhè zhāng zhǐ jiǎn chéng tiáo zi.
    Cut this piece of paper into strips.

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.

条tiáostrip
子zǐitem

条子 builds on 条 (strip) with 子 to name a strip or note.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 條; 条 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
攸
攸yōu條tiáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 條 pairs 木, a small branch or stick, with 攸, which shows a person warned by a hand holding a stick, as a sound part; 条 is a later shortened shape.

Open 条 →

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 →
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