脚丫子 (jiǎo yā zi) — (colloquial) foot

Definition

A cute, colloquial word for 'foot' — literally 'foot + little toe (丫)'. Softens the body part, so it's common for babies, kids, or playful speech; use 脚 for neutral contexts.

noun
(colloquial) foot
Measure word · 只

Examples

  • 脚丫子。
    Xiǎo bǎo bao de jiǎo yā zi zhēn kě ài.
    The baby's little feet are so cute.
  • 脚丫子。
    Nǐ xǐ xǐ jiǎo yā zi zài shàng chuáng.
    Wash your feet before getting into bed.
  • 脚丫子。
    Tā guāng zhe jiǎo yā zi zài shā tān shàng pǎo.
    He ran barefoot on the beach.

Origin

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.

脚丫foot fork
脚jiǎofoot丫yāfork
偏正Modifier + head
子zǐsuffix

脚丫子 uses 脚 for foot and 丫 for a forked shape, with 子 in the familiar form.

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 腳; 脚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body
Sound part声符shēngfú
卻
卻què腳jiǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 腳 uses ⺼ for a body part and 卻 for the sound; the simplified 脚 is a later shorthand.

Open 脚 →

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

The shape of 丫 comes from a fork in a branch or path.

Open 丫 →

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.

Open 子 →

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