牛仔布 (niú zǎi bù) — denim

Definition

noun
denim

Examples

  • 牛仔布。
    Zhè tiáo niú zǎi bù kù zi hěn shū fu.
    This pair of denim pants is very comfortable.
  • 牛仔布。
    Wǒ mǎi le yí jiàn niú zǎi bù wài tào.
    I bought a denim jacket.
  • 牛仔布，。
    niú zǎi bù Hěn jiē shi, chuān hěn jiǔ dōu bú huì pò.
    Denim is very durable; it won't tear even if worn for a long time.

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.

牛仔cowboy
牛niúcow仔zǎiboy
偏正Modifier + head
布bùcloth

The 布 of 牛仔, the cow-boys, names denim.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

牛 is drawn as a bull's head, with two horns and two ears.

Open 牛 →

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
人人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ仔zǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

仔 puts 人 (person) next to 子, which gives the sound.

Open 仔 →

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
巾巾jīnkerchief
Sound part声符shēngfú
父
父fù布bù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

Open 布 →

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