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通讯录 (tōng xùn lù) — address book; contact list

Definition

noun
address bookcontact list
Measure word · 本

Examples

  • 通讯录。
    Wǒ zài tōng xùn lù lǐ zhǎo bú dào tā de diàn huà hào mǎ.
    I can't find his phone number in my address book.
  • 通讯录。
    Qǐng bǎ xīn tóng shì de lián xì fāng shì jiā dào tōng xùn lù lǐ.
    Please add the new colleague's contact information to the contact list.
  • 通讯录。
    Wǒ de shǒu jī tōng xùn lù cún le yì qiān duō gè lián xì rén.
    My phone's address book has over a thousand contacts stored.

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.

通讯communication
通tōngconvey讯xùnmessage
动宾Verb + object
录lùrecord

通讯录 combines 通讯 (communication/contact) and 录 (record), giving a record of contacts.

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 訊; 讯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
卂
卂xùn訊xùn
Same sound today

The traditional form 訊 combines 言 (words) with 卂 as a sound part; the simplified 讯 is a shorthand.

Open 讯 →

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 錄; 录 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
彔
彔lù錄lù
Same sound today

The traditional form 錄 combines 金 (metal) with 彔, which gives the sound; the simplified 录 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 录 →
Appears in
Mail & Messaging

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