钮扣 (niǔ kòu) — button (variant of 纽扣) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Standard word for a clothing 'button'. Used with measure word 颗 (kē); pair with 扣 (kòu) for 'to button' as in 把…扣好.

noun

button (variant of 纽扣)

Measure word · 颗

Examples

钮扣，。
Wǒ de niǔ kòu diào le, xū yào fèng yí xià.
My button fell off; I need to sew it on.
钮扣。
Zhè jiàn yī fu shàng yǒu sān kē niǔ kòu.
This shirt has three buttons.
钮扣。
Tā bāng wǒ bǎ niǔ kòu kòu hǎo le.
He helped me button it up.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

扣kòufastener

钮 and 扣 both refer to button-like fasteners, together naming a button.

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 鈕; 钮 is its simplified writing.

金丑鈕

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

丑

丑chǒu鈕niǔ

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

The traditional form 鈕 pairs 金 (metal) with 丑, which gives the sound; the simplified 钮 is a later shorthand.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

口

口kǒu扣kòu

Same sound today

扣 puts 手 (hand) beside 口 (mouth); 口 gives the sound, while 手 shows it is about a hand action.

Appears in

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