通条 (tōng tiáo) — (noun) poker, a metal rod used to stir or tend a fire; (noun) cleaning rod, a long rod used to clean the barrel of a gun or a pipe

Definition

A long thin metal rod used for two related jobs: stoking a fire (like a fireplace poker) and cleaning the barrel of a gun or pipe. Same shape and material, different contexts.

noun
poker, a metal rod used to stir or tend a firecleaning rod, a long rod used to clean the barrel of a gun or a pipe
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 通条。
    Tā yòng tiě zhì tōng tiáo bǎ lú huǒ bō wàng le.
    He used an iron poker to stoke the fire.
  • 通条。
    Shì bīng yòng tōng tiáo qīng lǐ bù qiāng qiāng guǎn.
    The soldier used a cleaning rod to clear the rifle barrel.
  • ，通条。
    Dǎ liè hòu, tā yòng tōng tiáo zǐ xì qīng jié le liè qiāng.
    After hunting, he carefully cleaned his shotgun with a cleaning rod.

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.

通tōngclear through
条tiáolong rod

通 means clear through and 条 means long rod; together they name a rod for clearing.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng通tōng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

Open 通 →

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 條; 条 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
攸
攸yōu條tiáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 條 pairs 木, a small branch or stick, with 攸, which shows a person warned by a hand holding a stick, as a sound part; 条 is a later shortened shape.

Open 条 →

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