鸭嘴兽 (yā zuǐ shòu) — platypus; duckbill | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

platypusduckbill

Measure word · 只

Examples

鸭嘴兽。
yā zuǐ shòu Shì yì zhǒng shēng huó zài ào dà lì yà de dú tè dòng wù.
The platypus is a unique animal that lives in Australia.
鸭嘴兽，。
Dòng wù yuán lǐ xīn lái le yì zhī yā zuǐ shòu, dà jiā dōu xiǎng qù kàn tā.
A new platypus arrived at the zoo, and everyone wants to go see it.
鸭嘴兽，。
yā zuǐ shòu De zuǐ ba xiàng yā zi, dàn shì tā de jiǎo xiàng shuǐ tǎ.
The platypus's bill looks like a duck's, but its feet are like an otter's.

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.

鸭嘴duck bill

鸭yāduck嘴zuǐbill

偏正Modifier + head

A 兽 with a 鸭嘴, a duck's bill, names the platypus.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鴨; 鸭 is its simplified writing.

甲鳥鴨

Meaning part形符xíngfú

鳥鳥niǎobird

Sound part声符shēngfú

甲

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

The traditional form 鴨 uses 甲 for its sound and 鳥 for bird; the simplified 鸭 is a shorthand.

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

口觜嘴

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

觜

觜zī嘴

Same sound today

嘴 pairs 口 (mouth) with 觜, which supplies its sound.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 獸; 兽 is its simplified writing.

單單dānhunting weapon
犬犬quǎndog

The traditional form 獸 combines 單 (hunting weapon) and 犬 (dog) to show hunting; the simplified 兽 is a shorthand.

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