苹果 (píng guǒ) — apple | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

apple

Measure word · 个, 颗

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.

苹píngapple plant

苹 points to the apple plant and 果 means fruit, so the word names its fruit.

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

艸艸cǎo

Sound part声符shēngfú

平

Same sound today

苹 combines 艸, the grass component, with 平, which provides its sound.

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

果 originally drew fruits hanging on a tree.

Appears in