算盘 (suàn pán) — (noun) abacus; (noun) scheme, plan (often in id… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally 'abacus' — the physical counting frame (一把算盘). Metaphorically, 打小算盘 means 'to scheme / look out for one's own interest,' more colloquial and self-interested than the formal 计 or 企图.

noun

abacusschemeplan (often in idioms like 打小算盘)

Measure word · 把

Examples

算盘，。
Tā mǎi le yì bǎ xīn suàn pán, dǎ suàn jiào hái zi xué.
He bought a new abacus, planning to teach the child with it.
，。
Nǐ bié dǎ nǐ de xiǎo suàn pán le, zhè jiàn shì dà jiā dōu yào gōng píng.
Stop your petty scheming — everyone should be fair in this matter.
，。
Tā suàn pán dǎ dé hǎo, dàn zǒng wèi zì jǐ de lì yì dǎ suàn.
He is good at calculating, but he always schemes for his own benefit.

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.

算suàncalculate

“算” points to calculating and “盘” to the frame, so the word means an abacus.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

竹目廾算

竹竹zhúbamboo
目目mù
廾廾gǒng

The current form 算 has 竹 on top, 目 in the middle, and 廾 below; the 目 part may have originally drawn counting rods, often made of bamboo.

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 盤; 盘 is its simplified writing.

般皿盤

Meaning part形符xíngfú

皿皿mǐn

Sound part声符shēngfú

般

般bān盤pán

Same sound today

The traditional form 盤 pairs 般, which gives the sound, with 皿, a vessel. This note is about 盤, not the simplified 盘.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Math Miscellaneous Objects

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