(jiǎ) — (bound form) dumpling (appears in 饺子 and other dumpling-related compounds)

Definition

饺 is a bound morpheme meaning 'dumpling' — it only appears in compounds like 饺子, never on its own.

bound form
dumpling (appears in 饺子 and other dumpling-related compounds)

Examples

  • Wǒ xǐ huan chī jiǎ zi.
    I like to eat dumplings.
  • Mā ma bāo le jiǎ zi dāng wǎn cān.
    Mom made dumplings for dinner.
  • jiǎ Zi shì zhōng guó guò nián de chuán tǒng shí pǐn.
    Dumplings are a traditional food during Chinese New Year.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 餃; 饺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Written in full asshífood, eat
Sound part声符shēngfú
jiāojiǎo
Same sound today

The traditional form 餃 uses 飠 to show food and 交 for sound; the modern 饺 is a shortened form.

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