清蒸 (qīng zhēng) — to steam (fish or meat) with light seasoning, p…

Definition

verb

to steam (fish or meat) with light seasoningpreserving the original flavor

清蒸。
Zhè dào qīng zhēng yú fēi cháng xiān měi.
This steamed fish is very delicious.
清蒸，。
Wǒ xǐ huan chī qīng zhēng de páng xiè, yuán zhī yuán wèi.
I like to eat steamed crabs—they keep the original taste.
清蒸。
qīng zhēng Bǐ hóng shāo gèng jiàn kāng.
Steaming is healthier than braising in soy sauce.

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.

清qīngclear/light

清 (clear/light) and 蒸 (steam) combine for steaming with light seasoning.

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.

氵青清

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

青

Same sound today

清 has 氵 (water) on the left and 青 on the right to show its sound.

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

艸艸cǎograss

Sound part声符shēngfú

烝

烝zhēng蒸zhēng

Same sound today

蒸 pairs 艸 (grass) with 烝, which gives the sound.