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架子 (jià zi) — shelf; frame; stand; airs; arrogance (often in 摆架子)

Definition

架子 covers two unrelated senses: a physical stand/shelf/frame, or 'putting on airs' (摆架子). Unlike 骄傲, the 'airs' sense is purely about pretentious behavior, never about worthy pride.

noun
shelfframestandairsarrogance (often in 摆架子)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 架子。
    Qiáng shàng yǒu yí gè mù jià zi.
    There is a wooden shelf on the wall.
  • ，。
    Tā zǒng xǐ huan bǎi jià zi, dà jiā dōu bú tài yuàn yì hé tā lái wǎng.
    He always likes to put on airs, so people are reluctant to associate with him.
  • 架子。
    Tā zuò le yí gè tiě jià zi lái fàng gōng jù.
    He made an iron shelf to store tools.

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.

架jiàframe
子zǐthing-name

架 gives the idea of a frame or shelf, and 子 makes it a familiar thing-name, so it can mean airs.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree, wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
加
加jiā架jià
Same sound today

架 shows 木, meaning wood, with 加 giving the sound; it refers to a wooden prop.

Open 架 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Furniture

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