谱子 (pǔ zǐ) — music score; list or notation of rules/formulas (e.g., recipe, chess manual)

Definition

Colloquial word for a music score (sheet music). By extension, it can also mean a written set of formulas or moves — like a recipe or a chess notation — any step-by-step reference you 'read through' to do something.

noun
music scorelist or notation of rules/formulas (e.g., recipe, chess manual)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 谱子？
    Nǐ néng bāng wǒ kàn yí xià zhè ge pǔ zǐ ma?
    Can you help me take a look at this music score?
  • 谱子。
    Mā ma yǒu yì běn zuò cài de pǔ zǐ.
    Mom has a recipe book for cooking.
  • 谱子。
    Tā zhào zhe pǔ zǐ xià qí.
    He plays chess following the notation.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

谱pǔscore/list
子zǐfamiliar ending

谱 is a score or list, and 子 adds a familiar, concrete feel, as in a music score.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 譜; 谱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsound
Sound part声符shēngfú
普
普pǔ譜pǔ(r)
Same sound today

In the traditional form 譜, 言 relates to sound and 普 gives the pronunciation; this explanation is about 譜, not the simplified 谱.

Open 谱 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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