软骨病 (ruǎn gǔ bìng) — rickets | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

rickets

Examples

软骨病。
Hái zi quē gài róng yì dé ruǎn gǔ bìng.
Children who lack calcium are prone to rickets.
软骨病D。
Zhè zhǒng ruǎn gǔ bìng kě yǐ tōng guò bǔ chōng wéi shēng sù D zhì liáo.
This type of rickets can be treated with vitamin D supplements.
软骨病。
Yī shēng shuō tā dé le qīng dù ruǎn gǔ bìng.
The doctor said he has mild rickets.

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.

软骨soft bone

软ruǎnsoft骨gǔbone

偏正Modifier + head

病bìngdisease

软 describes softness, 骨 gives bones, and 病 names the resulting illness.

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 軟; 软 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jūcarriage

Sound part声符shēngfú

耎

耎ruǎn軟ruǎn

Same sound today

The traditional form 軟 pairs 車 (carriage) with 耎 as a sound part; 耎 depicted a man under rain, and simplified 软 uses a later right side instead of 耎.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

冎

冎guǎ骨gǔ

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

The older form 冎 drew a bone; 肉, flesh, was added to make 骨.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

疒丙病

Meaning part形符xíngfú

疒疒nèsickness

Sound part声符shēngfú

丙

丙bǐng病bìng

Same sound today

病 pairs 疒, a sickness mark, with 丙, which gives the sound; 丙 also means fire, giving a picture of lying feverishly in bed.

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