篮球 (lán qiú) — basketball | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

basketball

Measure word · 个, 只

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.

“篮” is the basket and “球” the ball, naming the ball game.

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 籃; 篮 is its simplified writing.

竹監籃

Meaning part形符xíngfú

竹竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

監

監jiān籃lán

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

The traditional form 籃 puts 竹 (bamboo) over 監, which gives the sound; the simplified 篮 is a later 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

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

求

Same sound today

球 is built from 玉, meaning jade, and 求, which gives the sound.

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