上端 (shàng duān) — upper end, top part (of an object, surface, or area)

Definition

Literally 'upper end' — the topmost part or tip of something vertical or elongated (a pole, stick, screen). Contrast with 下端 (lower end).

noun
upper endtop part (of an object, surface, or area)

Examples

  • 上端。
    Zhè ge biǎo gé de shàng duān yào xiě biāo tí.
    The top of this form needs a title written on it.
  • 上端。
    Shǒu jī píng mù de shàng duān yǒu yì tiáo hēi xiàn.
    There's a black line at the top of the phone screen.
  • 上端。
    Zhú gān de shàng duān bǎng zhe yí miàn hóng qí.
    A red flag is tied to the upper end of the bamboo pole.

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.

上shàngupper
端duānend

上 means upper and 端 means end, so the upper end.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
耑
耑zhuān端duān
Same sound today

端 is made by putting 立 beside 耑. The 立 part is connected to the meaning, and 耑 gives the sound.

Open 端 →

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