淀粉 (diàn fěn) — starch | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

starch

Examples

淀粉，。
Zuò tāng de shí hou jiā yì diǎn diàn fěn, tāng huì biàn de gèng chóu.
When making soup, add a little starch, and the soup will become thicker.
淀粉，。
diàn fěn Shì tàn shuǐ huà hé wù de yì zhǒng, néng tí gōng néng liàng.
Starch is a type of carbohydrate that can provide energy.
淀粉。
diàn fěn Kě yǐ yòng lái zhì zuò zhǐ zhāng hé fǎng zhī pǐn.
Starch can be used to make paper and textiles.

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.

淀diànstarchy sediment

“淀” (starchy sediment) and “粉” (powder) give the name for a starchy powder.

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

定

定dìng淀diàn

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

淀 pairs 水 (water) with 定, which gives its sound.

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

米分粉

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

分

分fēn粉fěn

Same sound today

粉 pairs 米 (rice) with 分 for its sound. The rice part points to face powder made from rice.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Food (General)

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