花圈 (huā quān) — funeral wreath; mourning wreath | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A 花圈 is specifically a funeral wreath used to express condolences, typically placed at a graveside or memorial. 圈 ('circle') sets it apart from a garland or festive wreath — this is mournful, not decorative.

noun

funeral wreathmourning wreath

Measure word · 个

Examples

花圈。
Zàng lǐ shàng bǎi mǎn le huā quān.
The funeral was filled with wreaths.
花圈。
Qīn yǒu men sòng lái hěn duō huā quān biǎo shì āi dào.
Friends and family sent many wreaths to express their condolences.
花圈。
Tā zài mù qián xiàn le yí gè huā quān.
He offered a wreath in front of the grave.

Origin

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.

花 means flower and 圈 means circle; together it names a circular arrangement of flowers.

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.

艹化花

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

化

Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, 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.

囗卷圈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéi

Sound part声符shēngfú

卷

卷juàn圈quān

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

圈 is made of the outer 囗, an enclosure shape, and the inner 卷, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Plants & Flowers

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