碗橱 (wǎn chú) — cupboard for tableware; kitchen cabinet; sideboard

Definition

A cupboard or kitchen cabinet specifically for storing bowls, plates, and other tableware — named after what it holds (碗 = bowls), unlike a general 柜子 which is for clothes or general storage.

noun
cupboard for tablewarekitchen cabinetsideboard
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 碗橱。
    Tā bǎ suǒ yǒu wǎn dié dōu fàng jìn wǎn chú lǐ le.
    She put all the dishes into the cupboard.
  • 碗橱，。
    Zhè ge wǎn chú shì shí mù zuò de, hěn jiē shi.
    This cupboard is made of solid wood and is very sturdy.
  • 碗橱，。
    Chú fáng lǐ yǒu yí gè xīn wǎn chú, yòng lái fàng cān jù.
    There is a new cupboard in the kitchen for storing tableware.

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.

碗wǎnbowl
橱chúcupboard

碗 bowls and 橱 cupboard together name a cabinet for tableware.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
宛
宛wǎn碗wǎn
Same sound today

碗 combines 石 (stone) with 宛. The 石 part relates to the meaning, and 宛 gives the sound.

Open 碗 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 橱 →

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