遮荫 (zhē yīn) — to provide shade

Definition

Verb meaning 'to provide shade' — describes what a tree, plant, or structure does by blocking the sun. Used for both natural shade (trees, vines) and built shade (awnings, canopies).

verb
to provide shade

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè kē dà shù zhē le hěn dà de yìn.
    This big tree provides a lot of shade.
  • 遮荫。
    Lù biān de shù zhē yīn ràng xíng rén gǎn dào liáng shuǎng.
    The roadside trees provide shade, making pedestrians feel cool.
  • ，遮荫。
    Yáng tái shàng zhǒng le pú tao téng, kě yǐ zhē yīn.
    Vines planted on the balcony can provide shade.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

遮zhēcover
荫yìnshade

遮 “cover” and 荫 “shade” combine to mean making a shaded cover.

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chuòroad
Sound part声符shēngfú
庶
庶shù遮zhē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

遮 has 辶, a road-like part, and 庶 (shù, 'numerous'), which gives it its sound.

Open 遮 →

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 蔭; 荫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
陰
陰yīn蔭yìn
Same sound today

The traditional form 蔭 has 艹 (grass) and 陰 (shade), with 陰 giving the sound; 荫 is a later simplified form.

Open 荫 →

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