书房 (shū fáng) — study (room) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

书房 is a room in a home used for reading and studying. Unlike 图书 (a collection of books), 书房 is the physical space, not the books themselves.

noun

study (room)

Measure word · 间

书房。
Bà ba zài shū fáng lǐ fàng le yì zhāng dà zhuō zi.
Dad put a big desk in the study.
书房，。
Zhè jiān shū fáng de chuāng hu hěn dà, guāng xiàn hěn hǎo.
This study has big windows and good lighting.
书房。
Zhōu mò wǒ cháng zài shū fáng lǐ yòng diàn nǎo xiě zuò yè.
On weekends I often use the computer in the study to do homework.

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shūbook/study

书 denotes books or study, and 房 denotes a room, giving a room for reading and study.

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.

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

戶戶hùdoor

Sound part声符shēngfú

方

Same sound today

房 pairs 戶 (door) with 方 (fāng) as a sound part; 方 can also fit 'side,' as in a side room beside the main room.

Appears in