轻巧 (qīng qiǎo) — (of objects) light and portable; delicately mad…

Definition

Describes something both light in weight and cleverly designed — '(of objects) light and portable' — or, of movements, nimble and skillful. The 轻 emphasizes low weight; the 巧 highlights the fine, dexterous craft or motion.

adjective

(of objects) light and portabledelicately made(of movements or skills) nimbledexterousskillful

Examples

轻巧，。
Zhè tái diàn nǎo hěn qīng qiǎo, wǒ měi tiān dài tā shàng bān.
This computer is light and portable; I take it to work every day.
轻巧，。
Zhè ge bēi zi hěn qīng qiǎo, yòu qīng yòu hǎo kàn.
This cup is light and portable, both light and pretty.
轻巧。
Tā tiào wǔ de dòng zuò hěn qīng qiǎo.
His dance movements are nimble and dexterous.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

轻qīnglight

巧qiǎoskillful

轻 names lightness and 巧 names skillfulness, together describing nimble, deft action.

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 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

車巠輕

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jūcarriage

Sound part声符shēngfú

巠

巠jīng輕qīng

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

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →

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

工丂巧

Meaning part形符xíngfú

工工gōng

Sound part声符shēngfú

丂

丂kǎo巧qiǎo

Same sound today

巧 is made of 工 and 丂; 工 points to its meaning, and 丂 points to its sound.

Open 巧 →

Appears in