绳子 (shéng zi) — rope, string, cord | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

绳子 is a physical cord or rope you can tie or hold. 弦 is reserved for the strings of a musical instrument or bow; 线 is much thinner (thread or wire).

noun

ropestringcord

Measure word · 条

绳子。
Qǐng bǎ zhè tiáo shéng zi dì gěi wǒ.
Please hand me this rope.
绳子。
Tā yòng shéng zi bǎ xíng li kǔn dé hěn jǐn.
He tied the luggage tightly with rope.
绳子，。
Zhè gēn shéng zi tài duǎn le, huàn yì gēn cháng de ba.
This string is too short; let's swap for a longer one.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

“绳” means rope, and “子” is a common word ending for objects.

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 繩; 绳 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

黽

黽mǐn繩shéng

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

The traditional form 繩 is built from 糸, the rope/string part, and 黽, the sound part.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Appears in