男朋友 (nán péng you) — boyfriend | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to one's romantic boyfriend — paired with 女朋友 for girlfriend. 对象 is a broader, more neutral term for 'romantic partner'.

noun

boyfriend

Measure word · 个

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.

朋友friend

联合Coordinate

男 adds male to 朋友, so the word means a male friend, specifically a boyfriend.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

田力男

男 is made from 田, a field, and 力, strength. It shows a man working with strength in a field.

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

The old form of 朋 showed two strings of cowries side by side; the modern double shape came from this picture.

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

又又友

友 is drawn as two 又, the hand form, side by side. The old explanation says two hands together mean friendship.

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