海碗 (hǎi wǎn) — (colloquial) huge bowl, large bowl (especially for noodles or soup)

Definition

A 海碗 (hǎi wǎn) is a very large bowl, big enough to hold a generous portion of noodles or soup — literally 'sea-sized bowl'. It usually refers to a specific style of big, sturdy bowl used in northern Chinese homes and noodle shops.

noun
(colloquial) huge bowllarge bowl (especially for noodles or soup)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 海碗。
    Tā yòng hǎi wǎn shèng le yí dà wǎn tāng.
    He used a huge bowl to scoop a big bowl of soup.
  • 海碗，。
    Lǎo bǎn duān lái hǎi wǎn miàn, fèn liàng hěn zú.
    The boss brought over a huge bowl of noodles, the portion was generous.
  • 海碗。
    Běi fāng rén chī fàn shí cháng yòng hǎi wǎn.
    Northerners often use huge bowls when eating.

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.

海hǎisea
碗wǎnbowl

A 碗 bowl so large it is compared to the 海 sea.

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
每
每měi海hǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.

Open 海 →

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
石石shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
宛
宛wǎn碗wǎn
Same sound today

碗 combines 石 (stone) with 宛. The 石 part relates to the meaning, and 宛 gives the sound.

Open 碗 →

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