榴莲 (liú lián) — durian (a tropical fruit with a strong smell an…

Definition

noun

durian (a tropical fruit with a strong smell and spiky shell)

Measure word · 个

Easily confused

榴莲。
Wǒ cóng lái méi chī guò liú lián.
I've never eaten durian.
榴莲，。
Zhè ge liú lián wén qǐ lái hěn chòu, dàn chī qǐ lái hěn tián.
This durian smells very stinky, but tastes very sweet.
榴莲。
Chāo shì lǐ mài xīn xiān de liú lián.
The supermarket sells fresh durians.

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.

木留榴

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

留

Same sound today

The left side 木 marks a tree, while the right side 留 gives the character its sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 蓮; 莲 is its simplified writing.

艹連蓮

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎo

Sound part声符shēngfú

連

連lián蓮lián

Same sound today

The traditional form 蓮 puts the plant mark 艹 above 連, which gives the sound. The simplified 莲 is a later shorthand.