书卷 (shū juàn) — books; volumes (often in a literary or scholarly context)

Definition

noun
booksvolumes (often in a literary or scholarly context)
Measure word · 本

Examples

  • 书卷。
    Tā xǐ huan shōu cáng gǔ dài shū juàn.
    He likes to collect ancient books.
  • 书卷。
    Zhè xiē shū juàn jì zǎi le hěn duō lì shǐ gù shi.
    These books record many historical stories.
  • 书卷。
    Shū jià shàng bǎi mǎn le gè zhǒng shū juàn.
    The bookshelf is filled with all kinds of books.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

书shūbook
卷juànscroll

书 and 卷 both refer to written works, so together they mean books or volumes.

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
卩卩jiékneeling person
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢍏
𢍏𢍏卷juàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 卷, 卩 shows a kneeling person, while 𢍏 gives the sound and may also suggest bending or rolling, as in a reel of books.

Open 卷 →

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