藏书室 (cáng shū shì) — library (room for storing books)

Definition

A small room or space used to store and read books — smaller and more informal than 图书馆, which usually means a full library building.

noun
library (room for storing books)
Measure word · 间

Examples

  • 藏书室。
    Zhè ge cáng shū shì lǐ yǒu hěn duō gǔ shū.
    This library has many ancient books.
  • 藏书室。
    Tā zài cáng shū shì lǐ ān jìng dì kàn shū.
    He reads books quietly in the library.
  • 藏书室。
    Xué xiào xīn jiàn le yí gè cáng shū shì.
    The school newly built a library.

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.

藏书store books
藏cángstore书shūbooks
动宾Verb + object
室shìroom

A room for storing books, with 藏书 giving the purpose and 室 giving the room.

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cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
臧
臧zāng藏cáng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

藏 is made from 艸 (grass) and 臧, where 臧 gives the sound.

Open 藏 →

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 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùwriting brush
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě書shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

Open 书 →

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
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.

Open 室 →

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