索桥 (suǒ qiáo) — suspension bridge, chain bridge

Definition

noun

suspension bridgechain bridge

Measure word · 座

索桥。
Zhè zuò suǒ qiáo jiàn zài liǎng tiáo shān zhī jiān.
This suspension bridge is built between two mountains.
索桥，。
Guò suǒ qiáo de shí hou yào xiǎo xīn, qiáo huì huàng dòng.
When crossing a suspension bridge, be careful — it sways.
索桥。
Tā men yòng tiě liàn xiū le yí zuò suǒ qiáo.
They built a chain bridge using iron chains.

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.

索suǒrope/cable

索 means rope or cable, and 桥 means bridge, combining into a bridge made of cables.

Characters in this word

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

索 combines 糸 (thread) and 𣎳 (stripping fibres from a hemp stalk), showing threads or rope being pulled out from a fabric.

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 橋; 桥 is its simplified writing.

木喬橋

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

喬

喬qiáo橋qiáo

Same sound today

The traditional form 橋 pairs 木 (wood) with 喬 (qiáo), which gave the character its sound; the simplified 桥 is a later abbreviation.