TongTong
Sign in

靠垫 (kào diàn) — cushion; back cushion

Definition

noun
cushionback cushion
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 靠垫。
    Wǒ zài shā fā shàng fàng le yí gè kào diàn.
    I put a cushion on the sofa.
  • 靠垫。
    Zhè ge kào diàn hěn shū fu.
    This back cushion is very comfortable.
  • 靠垫。
    Tā mǎi le liǎng gè xīn kào diàn.
    He bought two new cushions.

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.

靠kàolean
垫diàncushion

靠 gives leaning, and 垫 gives a cushion, so the word means a cushion for leaning.

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
非非fēi
Sound part声符shēngfú
告
告gào靠kào
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

靠 is made of 告 and 非: 告 gives the sound, and 非 gives the meaning.

Open 靠 →

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 墊; 垫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
執
執zhí墊diàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 墊 pairs 土, showing earth, with 執, providing the sound; this is about 墊, not the simplified 垫.

Open 垫 →
Appears in
Furniture

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.