芦苇 (lú wěi) — reed (a tall grass-like plant that grows in wet… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

reed (a tall grass-like plant that grows in wetlands)

Measure word · 棵

Examples

芦苇。
Hú biān zhǎng mǎn le lú wěi.
The lakeside is full of reeds.
芦苇。
Tā yòng lú wěi biān le yí gè lán zi.
He wove a basket out of reeds.
芦苇。
Qiū tiān lú wěi de huā suì hěn piào liang.
The reed plumes are very beautiful in autumn.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

芦 and 苇 both name reed-like plants, so together they refer to reeds.

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.

艹户芦

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎoplant

Sound part声符shēngfú

户

户hù芦lú

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

芦 combines 艹, the plant marker, with 户, which gives the sound.

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 葦; 苇 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艸艸cǎograss

Sound part声符shēngfú

韋

韋wéi葦wěi

Same sound today

The traditional form 葦 pairs 艸 (grass) with 韋 for sound; the simplified 苇 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Appears in

Plants & Flowers

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