纯种 (chún zhǒng) — purebred (animal) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Means 'purebred' — used for animals (dogs, cats, horses) with verified, unmixed lineage. Often contrasted with 杂种 (mixed breed).

noun

purebred (animal)

Measure word · 只

Examples

纯种。
Zhè zhī chún zhǒng gǒu lái zì yí gè hěn yǒu míng de quǎn shè.
This purebred dog comes from a very famous kennel.
纯种。
Tā huā le hěn duō qián mǎi le yì zhī chún zhǒng māo.
He spent a lot of money buying a purebred cat.
纯种，。
Zhè pǐ mǎ shì chún zhǒng de, xuè tǒng fēi cháng yōu xiù.
This horse is purebred, with an excellent lineage.

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.

纯 'pure' specifies 种 'breed', giving a purebred animal.

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 純; 纯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìthread

Sound part声符shēngfú

屯

屯tún純chún

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

The traditional form 純 pairs 糸 (thread) with 屯 as a sound part; the simplified 纯 is not the form described.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

禾中种

Meaning part形符xíngfú

禾禾hérice

Sound part声符shēngfú

中

中zhōng种zhǒng

Same sound today

种 pairs 禾, which shows rice or grain and fits meanings like plant and seed, with 中, which gives its sound.

Appears in

Animals & Mammals

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