鞭炮 (biān pào) — firecrackers; a string of small firecrackers | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Common everyday word for firecrackers, especially the strung-together kind set off at New Year. Use 爆竹 in more formal or written contexts, often for a single explosive.

noun

firecrackersa string of small firecrackers

Measure word · 枚

Examples

鞭炮。
Guò nián shí jiā jiā hù hù dōu huì fàng biān pào.
Every household sets off firecrackers during the New Year.
鞭炮。
Tā mǎi le yì méi biān pào zhǔn bèi wǎn shàng fàng.
He bought a firecracker to set off in the evening.
鞭炮，。
Yuǎn chù chuán lái biān pào de shēng yīn, tí xǐng rén men kuài guò nián le.
The sound of firecrackers came from afar, reminding people that the New Year was near.

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.

炮pàofirecracker

The first part suggests a string, and the second means firecracker, together indicating a string of firecrackers.

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.

革便鞭

Meaning part形符xíngfú

革革géleather

Sound part声符shēngfú

便

便biàn鞭biān

Same sound today

鞭 pairs 革, meaning leather, with 便, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

火包炮

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

包

包bāo炮pào

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

炮 combines 火 and 包; 包 supplies the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Chinese Culture & Customs Festivals & Holidays

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