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袜 (wà) — socks, stockings

Definition

袜 is a bound noun meaning 'sock' — it almost never stands alone, requiring the suffix 子 (袜子 wàzi) or a modifier like 运动 (运动袜 'sports socks').

bound form
socksstockings

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè shuāng wà zi hěn shū fu.
    This pair of socks is very comfortable.
  • 袜。
    Mā ma gěi wǒ zhī le yì shuāng máo wà.
    Mom knitted me a pair of wool socks.
  • 袜。
    Yùn dòng wà kě yǐ bǎo hù jiǎo huái.
    Sports socks can protect the ankles.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
衣衣yī
Sound part声符shēngfú
末
末mò袜wà
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

袜 combines 衣, related to clothing, with 末, which provides the sound.

Appears in
Footwear & Accessories

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