书包 (shū bāo) — schoolbag, bookbag | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

书包 is specifically a schoolbag — for carrying books to class. 背包 is a general backpack (travel, hiking, daily use), not tied to school.

noun

schoolbagbookbag

Measure word · 个, 只

书包。
Zhè ge shū bāo hěn piào liang.
This schoolbag is very pretty.
书包。
Tā de shū bāo lǐ miàn yǒu hěn duō shū.
There are many books inside her schoolbag.
。
Wǒ mǎi le yí gè xīn shū bāo.
I bought a new schoolbag.

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.

书 denotes books, and 包 denotes a bag, giving a bag for carrying books.

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

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.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 包 pictures a fetus in a womb, or a baby wrapped in cloth.

Appears in