桌椅 (zhuō yī) — tables and chairs (as a set or collectively)

Definition

noun
tables and chairs (as a set or collectively)
Measure word · 套

Examples

  • 桌椅。
    Jiào shì lǐ de zhuō yī dōu hěn xīn.
    The tables and chairs in the classroom are all very new.
  • 桌椅。
    Gōng sī xū yào mǎi yì pī xīn de zhuō yī.
    The company needs to buy a batch of new tables and chairs.
  • 桌椅。
    Zhè xiē zhuō yī de zhì liàng hěn hǎo.
    The quality of these tables and chairs is very good.

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.

桌zhuōtable
椅yǐchair

桌 is a table and 椅 is a chair, together naming the pair.

Characters in this word

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

桌 has 卓 on top, giving the sound and a sense of high, and 木 below, wood; the bottom of 卓 has merged into 木.

Open 桌 →

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mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
奇
奇qí椅yǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

椅 combines 木 (wood) with 奇, which gives its sound.

Open 椅 →

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