流星锤 (liú xīng chuí) — meteor hammer (ancient Chinese weapon: two iron balls on a chain)

Definition

A 流星锤 (liúxīngchuí) is a traditional Chinese weapon: two iron balls linked by a long chain. It is swung to strike enemies from a distance.

noun
meteor hammer (ancient Chinese weapon: two iron balls on a chain)
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 流星锤，。
    Tā zài diàn yǐng lǐ shǐ yòng liú xīng chuí, dòng zuò fēi cháng jīng cǎi.
    He used the meteor hammer in the movie, and his movements were very impressive.
  • 流星锤。
    Zhè bǎ liú xīng chuí shì yòng tiě liàn hé liǎng gè tiě qiú zuò chéng de.
    This meteor hammer is made of an iron chain and two iron balls.
  • 流星锤。
    Gǔ dài zhàn shì yòng liú xīng chuí lái gōng jī yuǎn chù de dí rén.
    Ancient warriors used the meteor hammer to attack enemies from a distance.

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.

流星meteor
流liúflow星xīngstar
偏正Modifier + head
锤chuíhammer

流星 (meteor) describes 锤 (hammer), a hammer swung like a meteor.

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

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

Open 流 →

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

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

Open 星 →

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 錘; 锤 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 锤 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words it is 錘; in others it is 鎚.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
垂
垂chuí錘chuí
Same sound today

The traditional form 錘 pairs 金 (metal) with 垂, which gives its sound; the simplified 锤 is a later shorthand.

Open 锤 →

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