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书刊 (shū kān) — books and periodicals

Definition

A collective term for printed reading material — books and periodicals together. 比 图书 (which can also mean 'picture/seal') broader in everyday speech, emphasizing both books and magazines/journals.

noun
books and periodicals

Examples

  • 书刊。
    Wǒ jīng cháng zài tú shū guǎn kàn shū kān.
    I often read books and periodicals in the library.
  • 书刊。
    Zhè jiā shū diàn chū shòu gè zhǒng shū kān.
    This bookstore sells all kinds of books and periodicals.
  • 书刊。
    Tā zhèng zài zhěng lǐ shū jià shàng de shū kān.
    He is organizing the books and periodicals on the bookshelf.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

书shūbook
刊kānperiodical

书刊 puts 书, books, and 刊, periodicals, together as a general term for printed publications.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùwriting brush
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě書shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

Open 书 →

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
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
干
干gān刊kān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刊 uses 干 to show its sound and 刀, a knife, to show its meaning.

Open 刊 →
Appears in
Reading & Writing

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