书报 (shū bào) — books and newspapers

Definition

noun
books and newspapers

Examples

  • 书报。
    Tā měi tiān dōu huì kàn shū bào.
    He reads books and newspapers every day.
  • 书报。
    Zhè ge tú shū guǎn shōu cáng le hěn duō shū bào.
    This library collects many books and newspapers.
  • 书报。
    Wǒ cóng xiǎo jiù hěn xǐ huan shū bào.
    I have liked books and newspapers since childhood.

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
报bàonewspaper

书 and 报 stand for books and newspapers, together naming printed reading matter.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 報; 报 is its simplified writing.

  • 㚔㚔㚔handcuffs
  • 𠬝𠬝𠬝to subdue

The traditional form 報 puts 㚔 (handcuffs) beside 𠬝 (to subdue), showing someone restrained and subdued, as in convicting or punishing a guilty person. The simplified 报 is a later shorthand.

Open 报 →

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