洞房 (dòng fáng) — bridal chamber; the bedroom of a newlywed couple

Definition

'Bridal chamber' — the bedroom where newlyweds consummate the marriage. The phrase 闹洞房 means the wedding-night custom of friends and family teasing the couple at the door.

noun
bridal chamberthe bedroom of a newlywed couple
Measure word · 间
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，洞房。
    Hūn lǐ jié shù hòu, xīn rén yì qǐ zǒu jìn le dòng fáng.
    After the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds entered the bridal chamber together.
  • 洞房。
    Gǔ rén rèn wéi dòng fáng shì rén shēng sì dà xǐ shì zhī yī.
    Ancient people considered the bridal chamber one of life's four greatest joys.
  • 。
    dòng fáng Huā zhú yè shì měi duì xīn rén de měi hǎo huí yì.
    The bridal chamber candlelit night is a beautiful memory for every newlywed couple.

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.

洞dòngdeep
房fángroom

“洞” suggests a deep or secluded space, and “房” is a room, giving a bridal chamber.

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
同
同tóng洞dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

洞 combines 水 (water) with 同, which gives the sound tóng.

Open 洞 →

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
戶戶hùdoor
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng房fáng
Same sound today

房 pairs 戶 (door) with 方 (fāng) as a sound part; 方 can also fit 'side,' as in a side room beside the main room.

Open 房 →

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