两栖动物 (liǎng qī dòng wù) — amphibian (class of vertebrates including frogs, toads, salamanders)

Definition

A scientific term: a cold-blooded vertebrate that lives both in water and on land (e.g. frogs, toads, salamanders). The opposite is 陆生动物 (land) or 水生动物 (water).

noun
amphibian (class of vertebrates including frogs, toads, salamanders)
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 两栖动物。
    Qīng wā shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de liǎng qī dòng wù.
    Frogs are a common type of amphibian.
  • 两栖动物。
    liǎng qī dòng wù Kě yǐ zài shuǐ zhōng hé lù dì shàng shēng huó.
    Amphibians can live both in water and on land.
  • 两栖动物。
    Zhè zhǒng liǎng qī dòng wù de pí fū hěn shī rùn.
    This kind of amphibian has very moist skin.

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.

两栖amphibious
两liǎngtwo栖qīlive
偏正Modifier + head
动物animal
动dòngmove物wùthing
偏正Modifier + head

两栖 means living in two environments, and 动物 means moving things, giving amphibious animals.

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 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

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
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
西
西xī栖⁰qī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

栖 is built from 木 (tree) and 西; 木 relates to the meaning, and 西 gives the sound.

Open 栖 →

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

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
牛牛niú
Sound part声符shēngfú
勿
勿wù物wù
Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

Open 物 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.