铅球 (qiān qiú) — shot put (sport and the heavy ball used) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

铅球 refers to both the shot put event and the heavy metal ball itself (literally 'lead ball'). It is a compound noun, not a separable word.

noun

shot put (sport and the heavy ball used)

Measure word · 个

Examples

铅球。
Tā cān jiā le qiān qiú bǐ sài.
He participated in the shot put competition.
铅球。
qiān qiú Shì yí xiàng xū yào lì liàng de yùn dòng.
Shot put is a sport that requires strength.
铅球。
Zhè ge qiān qiú yǒu qī gōng jīn zhòng.
This shot weighs seven kilograms.

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.

铅 means lead, 球 means a ball, together a lead ball used in shot put.

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 鉛; 铅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

㕣

㕣㕣鉛qiān

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

The form 鉛 pairs 金 (metal) with 㕣 as a sound part.

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

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

求

求qiú球qiú

Same sound today

球 is built from 玉, meaning jade, and 求, which gives the sound.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.