纸杯 (zhǐ bēi) — paper cup | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

paper cup

Measure word · 个

纸杯。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yí gè zhǐ bēi.
Please give me a paper cup.
纸杯。
Tā yòng zhǐ bēi hē shuǐ.
He uses a paper cup to drink water.
纸杯。
Chāo shì lǐ de zhǐ bēi hěn pián yi.
Paper cups at the supermarket are very cheap.

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.

纸 indicates paper, and 杯 means cup, giving a cup made of paper.

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 紙; 纸 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìsilk

Sound part声符shēngfú

氏

Same sound today

For 纸, the traditional form 紙 combines 糸 (silk) with 氏 (the sound part).

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

木不杯

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

不

不bù杯bēi

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

杯 is built from 木, meaning wood, and 不, which gives the sound.

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