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郁金香 (yù jīn xiāng) — tulip (flower); wild turmeric (Curcuma aromatica, a medicinal plant)

Definition

noun
tulip (flower)wild turmeric (Curcuma aromatica, a medicinal plant)
Measure word · 朵

Examples

  • 郁金香，。
    Gōng yuán lǐ zhǒng le yí dà piàn yù jīn xiāng, wǔ yán liù sè de.
    A large patch of tulips was planted in the park, colorful and vibrant.
  • 郁金香，。
    Tā shēng rì nà tiān shōu dào le yí shù yù jīn xiāng, kāi xīn jí le.
    She received a bouquet of tulips on her birthday and was extremely happy.
  • 郁金香。
    Zhè zhǒng yù jīn xiāng de qiú jīng xū yào qiū tiān zhǒng xià qù.
    The bulbs of this kind of tulip need to be planted in autumn.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鬱; 郁 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 鬱 shows 林 (forest), 大 (standing person), and 勹 (leaning person), with people hiding in a lush forest; the simplified 郁 is a later abbreviation.

Open 郁 →

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

金 was drawn with marks for two pieces of metal, along with a part that gave its sound; it first meant copper, then metals and gold.

Open 金 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

香's early form paired 黍 (glutinous millet) with 口 (mouth), perhaps showing millet drink being taken in or offered.

Open 香 →
Appears in
Plants & Flowers

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