雪 (xuě) — snow

Definition

noun
snow
Measure word · 场
Easily confused

Examples

  • 雪。
    Jīn tiān yǒu xuě.
    There is snow today.
  • 雪。
    xuě Shì bái de.
    Snow is white.
  • 雪。
    xuě Hěn dà.
    The snow is heavy.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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.

Appears in
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