蛋壳 (dàn ké) — eggshell | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

eggshell

Measure word · 个

蛋壳。
Jī dàn de dàn ké hěn cuì.
The eggshell of a chicken egg is very fragile.
蛋壳。
Bú yào bǎ dàn ké rēng jìn lā jī tǒng.
Don't throw the eggshell into the trash can.
蛋壳。
dàn ké Kě yǐ zuò chéng féi liào.
Eggshells can be made into fertilizer.

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.

蛋 (egg) specifies whose 壳 (shell) is meant, giving eggshell.

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

虫虫chóngsnake, insect

Sound part声符shēngfú

延

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

In 蛋, the lower part 虫 is a snake or insect, and the upper part is a shortened 延 giving the sound for 'egg'.

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 殼; 壳 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

㱿

㱿㱿殼ké(r)

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

The traditional form 殼 is built from 几 (the meaning part) and 㱿 (the sound part); the simplified 壳 is a later shorthand.

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