花布 (huā bù) — printed cloth, calico

Definition

Cloth printed with colored patterns (flowers, figures, geometric designs) — the everyday word for fabric with a decorative print. Often used for casual clothing, skirts, and craft projects.

noun
printed clothcalico
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 花布。
    Tā mǎi le yí kuài huā bù zuò qún zi.
    She bought a piece of calico to make a skirt.
  • 花布，。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu shì yòng huā bù zuò de, hěn piào liang.
    This garment is made of printed cloth, very pretty.
  • 花布。
    Wǒ xǐ huan zhè zhǒng huā bù de huā wén.
    I like the pattern of this calico.

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huāpattern
布bùcloth

布 with 花 patterns, i.e. printed fabric.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
化
化huà花
Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

Open 花 →

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
巾巾jīnkerchief
Sound part声符shēngfú
父
父fù布bù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

Open 布 →

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