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盥洗室 (guàn xǐ shì) — washroom, toilet

Definition

noun
washroomtoilet
Measure word · 间

Examples

  • 盥洗室。
    Zhè ge jiǔ diàn de guàn xǐ shì fēi cháng gān jìng.
    The washroom in this hotel is very clean.
  • ，盥洗室。
    Qǐng wǎng qián zǒu, guàn xǐ shì zài zǒu láng jìn tóu.
    Please go ahead, the washroom is at the end of the corridor.
  • 盥洗室。
    Gōng gòng guàn xǐ shì xū yào dìng qī xiāo dú.
    Public washrooms need regular disinfection.

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.

盥洗wash
盥guànwash洗xǐwash
联合Coordinate
室shìroom

盥洗 means washing, and 室 means room, naming a washroom.

Characters in this word

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

  • 𦥑𦥑𦥑pair of hands
  • 水水shuǐwater
  • 皿皿mǐnvessel

盥 is made from 𦥑 (pair of hands), 水 (water), and 皿 (a vessel), showing hands holding water from a vessel.

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
先
先xiān洗xǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

洗 is built from 水 (water) and 先, which gives the character its sound.

Open 洗 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
至
至zhì室shì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

室 puts 宀 (roof) over 至, the spot where someone stops, giving the meaning of a house or residence.

Open 室 →
Appears in
Public Facilities

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