法宝 (fǎ bǎo) — (literal) magic weapon, talisman (in religious…

Definition

Literally a 'magic weapon' or talisman in Buddhist/mythical stories; figuratively, a trusted method or 'trump card' you rely on to succeed.

noun

(literal) magic weapontalisman (in religious or mythical contexts)(figurative) powerful methodsecret weapontrump card

Measure word · 件

法宝。
Chuán shuō zhōng tā yǒu sān jiàn fǎ bǎo.
Legend says he has three magic weapons.
法宝。
Nài xīn shì tā chéng gōng de fǎ bǎo.
Patience is the secret weapon of his success.
法宝。
Zhè ge fāng fǎ shì wǒ men gōng sī de fǎ bǎo.
This method is our company's trump card.

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.

宝bǎotreasure

法 gives the dharma or magic sense, and 宝 is a treasure.

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.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寶; 宝 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 寶 shows 宀 (house), 琡 (jade), and 貝 (cowry), drawn together as treasures in a house.

Appears in