琴弦 (qín xián) — string (of a musical instrument) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

string (of a musical instrument)

Measure word · 根

Examples

，琴弦。
Tā tán jí tā shí, yì gēn qín xián duàn le.
When he was playing guitar, a string broke.
琴弦。
Xiǎo tí qín de qín xián xū yào dìng qī gēng huàn.
The strings of a violin need to be replaced regularly.
琴弦。
Èr hú yǒu liǎng gēn qín xián.
The erhu has two strings.

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.

琴qínstringed instrument

琴 is a stringed instrument, and 弦 is its string.

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

珡珡qín

Sound part声符shēngfú

今

今jīn琴qín

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

琴 pairs 珡, the part tied to its sense as a stringed instrument, with 今, 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.

弓玄弦

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

玄

玄xuán弦xián

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

弦 uses 弓 (bow) to show what it is about and 玄 to show how it is pronounced.

Appears in

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