雪花膏 (xuě huā gāo) — snowflake cream (a traditional Chinese facial m… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A traditional Chinese vanishing cream, white and fragrant, sold in small tins. It evokes a nostalgic, old-fashioned feel and is popular again as a heritage skincare product.

noun

snowflake cream (a traditional Chinese facial moisturizer)

Measure word · 瓶

Examples

雪花膏。
Nǎi nai de shū zhuāng tái shàng zǒng yǒu yì hé xuě huā gāo.
There's always a box of snowflake cream on grandma's dressing table.
雪花膏。
Zhè zhǒng xuě huā gāo de xiāng wèi ràng rén xiǎng qǐ xiǎo shí hou.
The scent of this snowflake cream reminds people of their childhood.
雪花膏。
Lǎo zì hào xuě huā gāo xiàn zài yòu liú xíng qǐ lái le.
The time-honored snowflake cream is becoming popular again.

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.

雪花snowflake

雪xuěsnow花huāflower

偏正Modifier + head

雪花 evokes white snow-like flakes, and 膏 is a soft cream or ointment.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

雨雨yǔrain

Sound part声符shēngfú

彗

彗huì雪xuě

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

雪 pairs 雨, showing rain, with 彗, giving the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

艹化花

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

化

Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

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

肉肉ròumeat

Sound part声符shēngfú

高

高gāo膏gào

Same sound today

膏 combines 高 as a sound part with 肉 (meat) as its meaning part.

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