科隆 (Kē lóng) — Cologne, Germany; Colón, Panama

Definition

noun

CologneGermanyColónPanama

科隆。
Wǒ míng nián xiǎng qù Kē lóng lǚ xíng.
I want to travel to Cologne next year.
科隆。
Kē lóng Shì dé guó xī bù de yí gè dà chéng shì.
Cologne is a large city in western Germany.
科隆。
Bā ná mǎ de Kē lóng shì yí gè zhòng yào de gǎng kǒu.
Colón in Panama is an important port.

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.

禾斗科

Meaning part形符xíngfú

斗斗dòumeasuring tool

Sound part声符shēngfú

禾

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

科 pairs 禾, which gives the hé sound, with 斗, a measuring tool.

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

降

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

The shape of 隆 is made from 生 and 降, with 降 giving the sound; an older part was later dropped.