茶室 (chá shì) — teahouse; (historical) brothel | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally 'tea room', a place to drink tea — the modern, quiet, often upscale sense most learners need. The historical '(brothel)' sense is rare and literary; do not confuse with everyday 茶馆 (more casual teahouse).

noun

teahouse(historical) brothel

Measure word · 间

Examples

茶室，。
Zhè jiān chá shì de zhuāng shì fēi cháng gǔ pǔ, chōng mǎn le chán yì.
This teahouse's decoration is very rustic, full of Zen atmosphere.
茶室。
Xiǎo shuō zhōng miáo xiě de chá shì qí shí shì gè yǐn bì de qīng lóu.
The 'teahouse' described in the novel is actually a hidden brothel.
茶室。
Tā xǐ huan zài chá shì lǐ yì biān pǐn chá yì biān tīng gǔ qín.
He likes to sip tea and listen to the guqin at a teahouse.

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.

'茶' names tea and '室' names a room, so the sense is a room for tea.

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cǎo

Sound part声符shēngfú

余

余yú茶chá

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 茶, the 艹 part marks a plant, and the 余 part gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

宀至室

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

至

至zhì室shì

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

室 puts 宀 (roof) over 至, the spot where someone stops, giving the meaning of a house or residence.

Appears in

Dining & Restaurants

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