餐具 (cān jù) — tableware; dinner service/set

Definition

noun

tablewaredinner service/set

Measure word · 套

餐具，。
Zhè xiē cān jù dōu shì cí qì, yòng de shí hou yào xiǎo xīn.
These tableware items are all porcelain; be careful when using them.
餐具。
Cān tīng de cān jù bǎi fàng dé hěn zhěng qí.
The tableware in the restaurant is arranged very neatly.
餐具。
Wǒ dǎ suàn mǎi yí tào xīn de cān jù guò nián yòng.
I plan to buy a new set of tableware for the Chinese New Year.

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.

具jùimplement

The 餐 gives meal and the 具 gives implement, together naming implements for meals.

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.

𣦼食餐

Meaning part形符xíngfú

食食shíto eat; meal; food

Sound part声符shēngfú

𣦼

𣦼𣦼餐cān

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

餐 combines 食, meaning food or eating, with 𣦼 as the sound part; it originally meant “to swallow.”

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

具 pairs 廾 (two hands) with 鼎 (a cauldron), showing hands working with a cauldron to prepare food.

Appears in