红海 (Hóng Hǎi) — the Red Sea | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

the Red Sea

红海。
Wǒ men jì huà míng nián qù Hóng Hǎi lǚ yóu.
We plan to travel to the Red Sea next year.
红海。
Hóng Hǎi Wèi yú fēi zhōu hé yà zhōu zhī jiān.
The Red Sea is located between Africa and Asia.
红海。
Qián shuǐ ài hào zhě tè bié xǐ huan qù Hóng Hǎi kàn shān hú.
Diving enthusiasts especially like to go to the Red Sea to see coral.

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.

红, meaning red, combines with 海, meaning sea, to name the Red Sea.

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 紅; 红 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìsilk

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

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

The traditional form 紅 puts 糸 (silk) next to 工, which gives the sound; the simplified 红 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.

氵每海

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

每

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

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.