海藻 (hǎi zǎo) — seaweed; marine algae | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

seaweedmarine algae

Measure word · 棵

海藻。
hǎi zǎo Fù hán wéi shēng sù hé kuàng wù zhì.
Seaweed is rich in vitamins and minerals.
海藻。
Zhè zhǒng hǎi zǎo kě yǐ yòng lái zuò féi liào.
This type of seaweed can be used as fertilizer.
海藻。
hǎi zǎo Zài rì běn liào lǐ zhōng hěn cháng jiàn.
Seaweed is very common in Japanese cuisine.

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.

藻zǎoalgae

Algae that grow in the 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.

氵每海

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

每

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.

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

艹澡藻

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss

Sound part声符shēngfú

澡

Same sound today

藻 is built from 艹, a grass sign, placed over 澡, which provides the sound zǎo.

Appears in