纹路 (wén lù) — lines, grain (of wood, stone, skin, etc.)

Definition

noun

linesgrain (of wood, stone, skin, etc.)

Measure word · 条

纹路。
Zhè kuài mù tou de wén lù fēi cháng qīng xī.
The grain of this piece of wood is very clear.
纹路。
Tā shǒu xīn de wén lù hěn shēn.
The lines on his palm are very deep.
纹路。
Dà lǐ shí de wén lù ràng zhěng gè fáng jiān xiǎn de hěn gāo jí.
The grain of the marble makes the whole room look elegant.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

路lùline/grain

纹 and 路 both refer to visible lines or grain, so together they name the pattern on a surface.

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 紋; 纹 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìthread

Sound part声符shēngfú

文

Same sound today

The traditional form 紋 pairs 糸 (thread) with 文 as the sound part, giving the sense of a line of thread; this note is about 紋, not 纹.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

各

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

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.