金佛 (jīn fó) — golden Buddha statue | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

golden Buddha statue

Measure word · 尊

金佛。
Zhè zuò jīn fó shì míng dài gōng jiàng zhù zào de.
This golden Buddha statue was cast by Ming dynasty craftsmen.
金佛。
Sì miào zhèng diàn zhōng yāng gòng fèng zhe yì zūn jīn fó.
A golden Buddha statue is enshrined in the center of the temple's main hall.
金佛。
Zhè zūn jīn fó jià zhí lián chéng.
This golden Buddha statue is priceless.

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.

金 and 佛 combine to mean a golden Buddha statue.

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.

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.

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

亻弗佛

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

弗

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

佛 is made from 亻, a person, and 弗, which gives the sound.