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桌面 (zhuō miàn) — (place word) tabletop; surface of a table; (place word) desktop (of a computer); (figurative) aboveboard; open and public

Definition

Literally 'table surface', 桌面 is used both for a physical tabletop and (by extension) a computer desktop. Figuratively, putting something 摆上桌面 means handling it openly and publicly.

noun
(place word) tabletopsurface of a table(place word) desktop (of a computer)(figurative) aboveboardopen and public
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 桌面。
    Shū dōu fàng zài zhuō miàn shàng.
    The books are all on the tabletop.
  • 桌面。
    Wǒ de zhuō miàn shàng yǒu hěn duō wén jiàn.
    There are many files on my desktop.
  • 桌面。
    Zhè jiàn shì zuì hǎo bǎi zài zhuō miàn shàng tán.
    It's best to discuss this matter openly (put it on the table).

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.

桌zhuōtable
面miànsurface

桌 means table and 面 means surface, so it names the surface of a table.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

Open 面 →
Appears in
Computers & InternetFurniture

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