松香 (sōng xiāng) — rosin, colophony (a resin from pine trees used… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

rosincolophony (a resin from pine trees used in varnishes, adhesives, and for treating violin bows)

Examples

松香。
Yuè duì de xiǎo tí qín shǒu zài gōng shàng tú le yī céng sōng xiāng.
The orchestra violinist applied a layer of rosin to the bow.
松香，。
Zhè zhǒng tú liào hán yǒu sōng xiāng, gān zào hòu hěn guāng liàng.
This paint contains rosin and becomes very glossy after drying.
松香。
Sōng shù fēn mì de sōng xiāng kě yǐ yòng lái zhì zuò jiāo shuǐ.
The rosin secreted by pine trees can be used to make glue.

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.

香xiāngfragrant resin

「松」 names the pine and 「香」 names a fragrant resin, giving rosin from pine.

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.

木公松

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

公

公gōng松sōng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

松 uses 木 (wood) to show it is a tree, and 公 to give the sound.

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

黍黍shǔglutinous millet
口口kǒumouth

香's early form paired 黍 (glutinous millet) with 口 (mouth), perhaps showing millet drink being taken in or offered.

Appears in

Materials & Substances

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