灵猫 (líng māo) — civet cat | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

civet cat

Measure word · 只

Examples

灵猫。
Dòng wù yuán lǐ yǒu yì zhī líng māo.
There is a civet cat in the zoo.
灵猫。
líng māo Shì yì zhǒng yè xíng dòng wù.
The civet cat is a nocturnal animal.
灵猫。
Zhè zhī líng māo de máo hěn piào liang.
This civet cat's fur is very beautiful.

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.

The 灵猫 is a cat-like animal, a 猫 given the name 灵, clever or nimble.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 靈; 灵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

霝

霝líng靈líng

Same sound today

This note describes the traditional form 靈, not the simplified 灵: 霝 gives the sound, and 玉 (jade) is the meaning part.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

苗

苗miáo猫māo

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

猫 puts 犬 beside 苗; 犬 marks the animal sense, and 苗 gives the sound.

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