跑鞋 (pǎo xié) — running shoes, track shoes

Definition

noun
running shoestrack shoes
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 跑鞋
    Wǒ mǎi le yì shuāng xīn de pǎo xié, zhǔn bèi cān jiā mǎ lā sōng.
    I bought a new pair of running shoes, preparing to run a marathon.
  • 跑鞋
    Zhè shuāng pǎo xié hěn qīng, shì hé cháng jù lí pǎo bù.
    These running shoes are very light, suitable for long-distance running.
  • 跑鞋
    Tā de pǎo xié yǐ jīng chuān le liǎng nián, xū yào huàn yì shuāng xīn de.
    His running shoes have been worn for two years; he needs to get a new pair.

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.

跑 (run) gives the purpose of 鞋 (shoes).

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
foot
Sound part声符shēngfú
bāopǎo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

跑 combines 足, showing a foot, with 包, which gives the sound.

Open 跑 →

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

鞋 puts 革 (leather) beside 圭 to show leather shoes; 圭 gives the sound and originally drew a pair of ritual axes, not earth.

Open 鞋 →

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