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法子 (fǎ zi) — way; method

Definition

法子 is a colloquial noun for 'way, method' — similar to 方法 but more everyday and informal, often used in spoken problem-solving contexts. Also overlaps with 办法, which is even more common and covers a broader sense of 'solution'.

noun
waymethod
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • ，法子。
    Tā xiǎng le hěn jiǔ, zhōng yú xiǎng chū le yí gè hǎo fǎ zi.
    He thought for a long time and finally came up with a good method.
  • 法子，。
    Zhè ge fǎ zi suī rán jiǎn dān, dàn shì hěn yǒu xiào.
    This method, though simple, is very effective.
  • 法子，。
    Méi yǒu bié de fǎ zi le, wǒ men zhǐ néng zhè yàng zuò.
    There's no other way; we can only do it this way.

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.

法fǎmethod
子zǐsuffix

法 gives method, and 子 turns it into a way of doing something.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →

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
Abstract Concepts

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