精装 (jīng zhuāng) — (attributive) hardcover, clothbound (of books); (attributive) deluxe, premium (of packaging or editions)

Definition

Used as an attributive before a noun (精装书, 精装版) to mean 'hardcover / premium / deluxe' — often contrasts with 平装 (paperback).

adjective
(attributive) hardcoverclothbound (of books)(attributive) deluxepremium (of packaging or editions)

Examples

  • 精装，。
    Zhè běn shū shì jīng zhuāng de, hěn nài yòng.
    This book is hardcover, very durable.
  • 精装。
    Wǒ mǎi le yí tào jīng zhuāng bǎn de jì niàn yóu piào.
    I bought a set of deluxe commemorative stamps.
  • 精装，。
    Zhè ge lǐ hé shì jīng zhuāng bāo zhuāng, kàn qǐ lái hěn gāo dàng.
    This gift box has premium packaging — it looks very high-end.

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.

精jīngfine
装zhuāngbinding

精 (fine) describes the kind of 装 (binding or packaging).

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng精jīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Open 精 →

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 裝; 装 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衣衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
壯
壯zhuàng裝zhuāng
Same sound today

The traditional form 裝 pairs 衣 (clothes) with 壯 as a sound part; this story is about 裝, not the simplified 装.

Open 装 →

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