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鞋底 (xié dǐ) — sole (of a shoe)

Definition

noun
sole (of a shoe)
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 鞋底，。
    Zhè shuāng xié de xié dǐ tài báo le, zǒu jiǔ le jiǎo téng.
    The soles of these shoes are too thin; my feet hurt after walking for a while.
  • 鞋底。
    Xiū xié shī fu zhèng zài gěi wǒ huàn xīn de xié dǐ.
    The shoemaker is replacing my soles with new ones.
  • 鞋底，。
    Yǔ tiān de xié dǐ tè bié róng yì dǎ huá, yào xiǎo xīn zǒu lù.
    Soles are especially slippery on rainy days, so be careful walking.

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.

鞋xiéshoe
底dǐbottom

鞋 (shoe) + 底 (bottom) gives the bottom part of a shoe.

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
革革géleather
Sound part声符shēngfú
圭
圭guī鞋
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

鞋 puts 革 (leather) beside 圭 to show leather shoes; 圭 gives the sound and originally drew a pair of ritual axes, not earth.

Open 鞋 →

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
广广guǎngbuilding
Sound part声符shēngfú
氐
氐dī底dǐ
Same sound today

底 pairs 广 (building) with 氐, pointing to the bottom or foundation of a building. Some read 氐 as a bowing figure or tree root, adding a sense of 'down'.

Open 底 →
Appears in
Footwear & Accessories

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