丝袜 (sī wà) — silk stockings; silk socks | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

silk stockingssilk socks

Measure word · 双

Examples

丝袜。
Tā mǎi le liǎng shuāng sī wà.
She bought two pairs of silk stockings.
丝袜。
Zhè tiáo sī wà shì hēi sè de.
This pair of silk stockings is black.
丝袜。
Chuān sī wà de shí hou yào xiǎo xīn bié gōu pò.
When wearing silk stockings, be careful not to snag them.

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.

“丝” silk and “袜” sock combine to name stockings made of silk.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 絲; 丝 is its simplified writing.

糸糸絲

糸糸mì
糸糸mì

In the traditional form 絲, the shape is two 糸 written together; this is about 絲, not the simplified 丝.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

末

末mò袜wà

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

袜 combines 衣, related to clothing, with 末, which provides the sound.

Appears in

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