桔子 (jú zi) — tangerine, mandarin orange

Definition

桔子 is the same fruit as 橘子 — both mean 'tangerine / mandarin orange' and are interchangeable in speech and writing; the form 橘子 is far more common.

noun

tangerinemandarin orange

Measure word · 个

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.

桔jútangerine

子zǐword ending

桔子 pairs 桔, the fruit name, with 子 to form the everyday name for tangerine.

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.

木吉桔

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

吉

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

桔 is built from 木, meaning wood, and 吉, which supplies the sound.

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.

Appears in