直拍 (zhí pāi) — (table tennis) penhold grip

Definition

noun

(table tennis) penhold grip

Measure word · 种

直拍。
Tā shǐ yòng zhí pāi lái dǎ qiú.
He uses the penhold grip to play.
直拍。
zhí pāi Néng ràng shǒu wàn gèng líng huó.
The penhold grip makes the wrist more flexible.
直拍。
Hěn duō zhōng guó yùn dòng yuán dōu xí guàn yòng zhí pāi.
Many Chinese players are used to using the penhold grip.

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.

直zhístraight

直 describes the straight paddle style, and 拍 is the paddle, giving the penhold grip name.

Characters in this word

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

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

白

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

拍 puts 手 (hand) beside 白, which gives the pronunciation.