鼻翼 (bí yì) — nostrils (the outer part of the nose) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

nostrils (the outer part of the nose)

Measure word · 对

Examples

鼻翼。
Tā de bí yì hěn kuān.
His nostrils are wide.
，鼻翼。
Gǎn mào de shí hou, bí yì huì gǎn jué bù shū fu.
When you have a cold, your nostrils feel uncomfortable.
鼻翼。
Huà zhuāng shí yào zhù yì xiū shì bí yì zhōu wéi.
When applying makeup, pay attention to the area around the nostrils.

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.

鼻 (nose) specifies which 翼 (wing-like side), meaning nostril.

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.

自畀鼻

Meaning part形符xíngfú

自自zìnose

Sound part声符shēngfú

畀

畀bì鼻bí

Same sound today

鼻 pairs 自, meaning nose, with 畀, 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.

羽異翼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

異

異yì翼yì

Same sound today

翼 combines 羽 (feathers/wings) with 異, which supplies the sound.

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