空白处 (kòng bái chù) — blank space, empty area (on a form, document, page, or schedule)

Definition

A noun meaning a blank space to be filled in — a spot on a form, test, or document left for the writer to complete. Concrete, not abstract 'emptiness' (that's 空白).

noun
blank spaceempty area (on a form, document, page, or schedule)

Examples

  • 空白处。
    Qǐng zài kòng bái chù xiě xià nǐ de míng zì.
    Please write your name in the blank space.
  • 空白处。
    Zhè zhāng biǎo gé de kòng bái chù tài xiǎo le.
    The blank spaces on this form are too small.
  • 空白处。
    Wǒ zài kòng bái chù tián shàng le zhèng què de dá àn.
    I filled in the correct answer in the blank space.

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.

空白blank
空kōngempty白báiblank
联合Side by side
处chùplace

The parts '空' and '白' mean empty and blank, while '处' names the place.

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
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

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

白 is thought to picture either an acorn or a human head.

Open 白 →

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 處; 处 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
夂夂zhǐ
几几jǐtable
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū處chǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 處 pairs 虍, giving the sound, with 夂 and 几, a table, as meaning parts. The simplified 处 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 处 →

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