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螺丝 (luó sī) — screw

Definition

螺丝 is the noun for a 'screw' (the fastener itself). The verb 'to screw/twisten it' is 拧 (nǐng or níng).

noun
screw
Measure word · 颗

Examples

  • 螺丝，。
    Zhè bǎ yǐ zi diào le yí gè luó sī, xū yào huàn xīn de.
    This chair lost a screw and needs a new one.
  • 螺丝。
    Yòng luó sī dāo bǎ luó sī níng jǐn jiù xíng le.
    Just tighten the screw with a screwdriver.
  • 螺丝，。
    Zhè xiē luó sī tài xiǎo le, bú shì hé zhè ge jià zi.
    These screws are too small for this shelf.

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.

螺luóspiral
丝sīthread

螺丝 names a 丝 (thread) arranged in a 螺 (spiral) shape.

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chóng
Sound part声符shēngfú
累
累lèi螺luó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

螺 combines 虫, a part associated with creatures, with 累, which gives the sound.

Open 螺 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 絲; 丝 is its simplified writing.

  • 糸糸mì
  • 糸糸mì

In the traditional form 絲, the shape is two 糸 written together; this is about 絲, not the simplified 丝.

Open 丝 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Miscellaneous Objects

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