码头 (mǎ tóu) — dock; pier; wharf | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

码头 is a pier or wharf — the physical structure where ships load and unload. 港口 is broader: the whole port, harbor area, and its facilities.

noun

dockpierwharf

Measure word · 个

码头。
Zhè sōu huò lún zhèng zài mǎ tóu xiè huò.
This cargo ship is unloading at the dock.
码头，。
Lǎo zhāng zài mǎ tóu gōng zuò, měi tiān dōu yào bān yùn hěn duō huò wù.
Old Zhang works at the wharf and has to haul a lot of cargo every day.
码头。
Míng tiān xià wǔ sān diǎn wǒ men zài mǎ tóu jí hé chū fā.
We'll gather at the pier at 3 pm tomorrow and set off.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

码mǎmooring/loading

码 relates to mooring or loading, while 头 gives a place sense, so 码头 means dock.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 碼; 码 is its simplified writing.

石馬碼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

石石shístone; rock

Sound part声符shēngfú

馬

馬mǎ碼mǎ

Same sound today

The traditional form 碼 pairs 石 (stone) with 馬 for its sound; the simplified 码 is a later shorthand.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頭; 头 is its simplified writing.

豆頁頭

Meaning part形符xíngfú

頁頁yèhead

Sound part声符shēngfú

豆

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

The traditional form 頭 shows 頁, meaning head, beside 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 头 is a later shorthand.

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