金粉 (jīn fěn) — gold dust; gold powder (used in cosmetics or decoration)

Definition

noun
gold dustgold powder (used in cosmetics or decoration)

Examples

  • 金粉，。
    Zhè zhǒng yán liào lǐ jiā le jīn fěn, kàn qǐ lái hěn shǎn.
    This kind of paint has gold dust added to it, so it looks very shiny.
  • 金粉。
    Gǔ dài guì fù huì yòng jīn fěn lái huà zhuāng.
    Noblewomen in ancient times would use gold powder to apply makeup.
  • 金粉，。
    Tā zài huà shàng sā le yì xiē jīn fěn, ràng zuò pǐn gèng huá lì.
    He sprinkled some gold dust on the painting to make the work more gorgeous.

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.

金jīngold
粉fěnpowder

金 (gold) and 粉 (powder) make a fine golden powder.

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.

Open 金 →

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
分
分fēn粉fěn
Same sound today

粉 pairs 米 (rice) with 分 for its sound. The rice part points to face powder made from rice.

Open 粉 →

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