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铺位 (pù wèi) — bunk (on a train or ship); berth

Definition

Refers to a sleeping berth or bunk, especially on a train or ship. Note: 铺 pù here is a phonetic/measure sense (a single berth), not 铺 pū ('to spread/cover' or 'shop').

noun
bunk (on a train or ship)berth
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 铺位。
    Zhè tàng huǒ chē de pù wèi hěn gān jìng.
    The bunks on this train are very clean.
  • 铺位。
    Tā mǎi le yì zhāng xià pù de pù wèi.
    He bought a lower berth ticket.
  • 铺位。
    Lún chuán shàng de pù wèi bǐ huǒ chē shàng de kuān chang.
    The berths on the ship are more spacious than those on the train.

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.

铺pùbunk
位wèiplace

铺 (bunk) and 位 (place) combine to mean a bunk or berth place.

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 鋪; 铺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīngold; metal
Sound part声符shēngfú
甫
甫fǔ鋪pū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鋪 pairs 金 (gold; metal) with 甫 as a sound part; the simplified 铺 is a shorthand.

Open 铺 →

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
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
立
立lì位wèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

位 combines 人 (man), related to people, with 立, which gives the sound. It was often simply written as 立.

Open 位 →
Appears in
Accommodation

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