玩牌 (wán pái) — to play cards | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

玩牌 specifically means playing cards or tile-based games (mahjong). It separates from 玩游戏 (video/computer games) and 打球 (ball sports).

verb

to play cards

Examples

玩牌。
Wǒ men zhōu mò jīng cháng yì qǐ wán pái.
We often play cards together on weekends.
。
Zuó tiān wǎn shàng wǒ men wán le yì jú pái.
Last night we played a round of cards.
玩牌。
Tā xǐ huan gēn péng you wán pái.
He likes to play cards with friends.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

玩 means play and 牌 means cards, so to play cards.

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

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

元

元yuán玩wán

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

玩 pairs 玉 (jade) with 元 (yuán) for sound. The jade part points to toys made of jade.

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

片卑牌

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

卑

卑bēi牌pái

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

牌 puts 片, a flat piece, beside 卑, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Games & Puzzles

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