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零蛋 (líng dàn) — zero (colloquial), goose egg; a score or result of zero

Definition

零蛋 is the colloquial word for getting 'zero' or a 'goose egg' — used when someone scores nothing on a test or in a game. Lightly humorous or teasing in tone.

noun
zero (colloquial)goose egga score or result of zero

Examples

  • 零蛋。
    Tā zhè cì kǎo shì kǎo le gè líng dàn.
    He got a goose egg on this exam.
  • 零蛋。
    Jiǎ duì bèi yǐ duì dǎ le ge líng dàn.
    Team A was shut out by Team B.
  • 零蛋。
    Wǒ bù xiǎng zài kàn dào líng dàn le.
    I don't want to see a zero 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.

零língzero
蛋dànegg

零 names the number, and 蛋 evokes the egg-shaped nought.

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
令
令lìng零líng
Same sound today

In 零, the 雨 part depicts thick raindrops falling from the sky; the 令 part gives the sound.

Open 零 →

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
虫虫chóngsnake, insect
Sound part声符shēngfú
延
延yán蛋dàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 蛋, the lower part 虫 is a snake or insect, and the upper part is a shortened 延 giving the sound for 'egg'.

Open 蛋 →
Appears in
Exams & GradesNumbers & Counting

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