道子 (dào zǐ) — (colloquial) line (in a drawing), stroke

Definition

Colloquial term for a line or stroke in a drawing, especially in brush painting or sketching. Pairs with the measure word 条 (一条道子).

noun

(colloquial) line (in a drawing)stroke

道子。
Tā zài zhǐ shàng huà le yì tiáo dào zǐ.
He drew a line on the paper.
道子。
Zhè tiáo dào zǐ huà dé tài xì le.
This line is drawn too thin.
道子。
Yòng máo bǐ huà de dào zǐ gèng yǒu wèi dào.
Lines drawn with a brush have more character.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

道dàoline or stroke

子zǐcommon ending

道 gives line or stroke, and 子 completes the colloquial term for it.

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

行行xíngstreet

Sound part声符shēngfú

𩠐

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

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Appears in