霓 (ní) — secondary rainbow
Definition
A bound form meaning 'secondary rainbow,' used only in the set phrase 霓虹 (níhóng, 'rainbow'). It never stands alone — 虹 is the everyday word for a rainbow.
bound form
secondary rainbow
Examples
- 霓。Tiān kōng zhōng chū xiàn le měi lì de ní hóng.A beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky.
- 霓。Yǔ hòu tiān kōng chū xiàn le ní hóng.After the rain, a rainbow appeared.
- 霓。Kē xué jiā yán jiū ní hóng de xíng chéng.Scientists study the formation of rainbows.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
兒
兒ér霓ní
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
霓 has 雨, meaning rain, and 兒, used for the sound.
Appears in
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