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钉子 (dīng zi) — nail; (figurative) snag, obstacle; (figurative) saboteur

Definition

Literally a nail (the fastener). Figuratively, 'a snag' is an obstacle that holds things up — weaker than 障碍, lighter than the idiom 绊脚石 ('stumbling block').

noun
nail(figurative) snagobstacle(figurative) saboteur
Measure word · 颗

Examples

  • 钉子。
    Tā yòng dīng zi bǎ mù bǎn gù dìng zhù le.
    He used a nail to fix the board in place.
  • 钉子，。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù yù dào le yí gè dīng zi, xū yào jǐn kuài jiě jué.
    This project hit a snag that needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
  • 钉子，。
    Gōng sī lǐ yǒu gè dīng zi, yì zhí zài àn zhōng gǎo pò huài.
    There's a saboteur in the company who's been secretly causing trouble.

Origin

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.

钉dīngnail
子zǐ

“钉” names the nail itself, and “子” is a familiar addition that completes the everyday name.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 釘; 钉 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng釘dīng
Same sound today

The traditional 釘 pairs 金 (metal) with 丁 for sound; some theorize 丁 originally meant “nail,” so 釘 was created to write that word with metal added. The simplified 钉 is a shorthand.

Open 钉 →

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.

Open 子 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Miscellaneous Objects

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