花茎 (huā jīng) — floral axis (the stem of a flower)

Definition

noun

floral axis (the stem of a flower)

Measure word · 根

花茎。
Zhè ge huā jīng hěn cháng.
This floral axis is very long.
花茎。
huā jīng De cháng dù yīn zhí wù ér yì.
The length of the floral axis varies by plant.
花茎。
Qǐng xiǎo xīn bú yào zhé duàn huā jīng.
Please be careful not to break the floral axis.

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 names the flower, and 茎 names the stem.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 莖; 茎 is its simplified writing.

艹巠莖

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎo

Sound part声符shēngfú

巠

巠jīng莖jīng

Same sound today

The traditional form 莖 pairs 艹 (plants) with 巠, which gives the sound; the simplified 茎 is a later shorthand.