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锤子 (chuí zi) — hammer

Definition

noun
hammer
Measure word · 把

Examples

  • 锤子。
    Tā ná le yì bǎ chuí zi.
    He took a hammer.
  • 锤子。
    Zhè bǎ chuí zi hěn zhòng.
    This hammer is heavy.
  • 锤子。
    Wǒ yòng chuí zi xiū zhuō zi.
    I use a hammer to repair the table.

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.

锤chuíhammer
子zǐcommon noun ending

锤 names the tool, and 子 completes the everyday word for it.

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 錘; 锤 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 锤 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words it is 錘; in others it is 鎚.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
垂
垂chuí錘chuí
Same sound today

The traditional form 錘 pairs 金 (metal) with 垂, which gives its sound; the simplified 锤 is a later shorthand.

Open 锤 →

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
Miscellaneous Objects

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