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鼓鼓 (gǔ gǔ) — to bulge, to swell; (stative verb) to be full and protruding

Definition

鼓鼓 (gǔ gǔ) means 'bulging, swollen, puffed out' — used as a stative verb for things stuffed full (pockets, bag, cheeks). The repeated character is onomatopoeic/emphatic, conveying a rounded, protruding shape.

verb
to bulgeto swell(stative verb) to be full and protruding

Examples

  • 鼓鼓，。
    Tā de kǒu dài gǔ gǔ zhe, lǐ miàn zhuāng mǎn le yìng bì.
    His pockets are bulging, filled with coins.
  • 鼓鼓，。
    Tā gǔ gǔ le liǎn jiá, chuī miè le là zhú.
    She puffed out her cheeks and blew out the candle.
  • 鼓鼓，。
    Shū bāo gǔ gǔ zhe, tā bèi dé hěn chī lì.
    The backpack is bulging, and he carries it with difficulty.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

鼓gǔbulge
鼓gǔbulge

The look of 鼓 suggests fullness and protrusion.

Characters in this word

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

  • 壴壴zhùdrum
  • 支支zhīhand holding drumstick

鼓 combines 壴, a drum, with 支, a hand holding a drumstick, so the character pictures a drum being struck.

Open 鼓 →

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

  • 壴壴zhùdrum
  • 支支zhīhand holding drumstick

鼓 combines 壴, a drum, with 支, a hand holding a drumstick, so the character pictures a drum being struck.

Open 鼓 →
Appears in
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