短大衣 (duǎn dà yī) — short overcoat | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

short overcoat

Measure word · 件

短大衣。
Wǒ mǎi le yí jiàn duǎn dà yī.
I bought a short overcoat.
短大衣。
Zhè jiàn duǎn dà yī chuān qǐ lái hěn nuǎn huo.
This short overcoat is very warm to wear.
短大衣。
Qiū tiān chuān duǎn dà yī zhèng hǎo.
It's perfect to wear a short overcoat in autumn.

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.

大衣overcoat

偏正Modifier + head

A short overcoat; 短 means short, while 大 and 衣 make a big coat.

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.

矢豆短

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

豆

豆dòu短duǎn

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

短 is built from 矢 and 豆. 豆 is used for its sound, while 矢 is the component linked to the meaning.

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

The form 大 is a picture of a person standing and facing forward, not of someone stretching their arms.

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

The shape of 衣 comes from an outline of the chest and upper clothing.