灯塔 (dēng tǎ) — lighthouse | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

lighthouse

Measure word · 座

Examples

灯塔。
Zhè ge dēng tǎ yǐ jīng yǒu yì bǎi nián de lì shǐ le.
This lighthouse has a history of a hundred years.
灯塔。
Hǎi shàng de dēng tǎ wèi chuán zhào liàng fāng xiàng.
The lighthouse at sea illuminates the direction for ships.
灯塔。
Zhè zuò dēng tǎ jiàn zài hǎi àn biān.
This lighthouse is built on the coast.

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.

灯 and 塔 together name a tower carrying a light.

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.

火丁灯

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng灯dēng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

灯 pairs 火, which shows fire, with 丁, which gives the sound.

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

土荅塔

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

荅

荅dá塔tǎ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

塔 shows 土 (earth) for the meaning and 荅 (dá) for the sound.

Appears in

Buildings & Structures

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