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码子 (mǎ zi) — numeral; code; number; chip; token; counter; (historical) monetary unit used in traditional finance

Definition

A colloquial noun covering numerals/codes, chips and tokens (e.g. at a casino), and a historical monetary unit. Concrete thing or figure rather than an abstract system.

noun
numeralcodenumberchiptokencounter(historical) monetary unit used in traditional finance

Examples

  • ISO码子。
    Qǐng bǎ zhè ge wén jiàn de ISO yǔ yán mǎ zi shū rù xì tǒng.
    Please enter the ISO language code of this file into the system.
  • 码子。
    Tā zài dǔ chǎng shū diào le yí dà duī mǎ zi.
    He lost a pile of chips at the casino.
  • 码子。
    Lǎo zhàng běn shàng jì lù zhe yín liǎng mǎ zi de shù mù.
    The old ledger records the amounts in silver taels (monetary units).

Origin

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mǎcode
子zǐsuffix

码 names a code or number, and 子 makes it a familiar everyday thing.

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.

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.

Open 码 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Money & CurrencyNumbers & Counting

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