竖琴 (shù qín) — harp | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

harp

Measure word · 架

竖琴。
Tā xǐ huan tán shù qín.
She likes to play the harp.
竖琴。
Zuó wǎn de shù qín qǔ zi hěn hǎo tīng.
The harp piece last night sounded great.
竖琴。
Tā yòng shù qín tán le yì shǒu gǔ diǎn lè.
He played a classical piece on the harp.

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.

竖shùvertical

琴qínstringed instrument

竖 (vertical) describes 琴 (stringed instrument), naming the upright harp.

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 豎; 竖 is its simplified writing.

臤豆豎

Meaning part形符xíngfú

臤臤qiān

Sound part声符shēngfú

豆

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

The traditional form 豎 possibly pairs 臤 with 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 竖 is a shorthand.

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

珡珡qín

Sound part声符shēngfú

今

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

琴 pairs 珡, the part tied to its sense as a stringed instrument, with 今, which gives the sound.

Appears in