二郎腿 (èr láng tuǐ) — crossed-legs sitting posture (one ankle on the opposite knee)

Definition

A relaxed seated pose with one ankle resting on the opposite knee. Colloquial and informal — 坐 is the neutral word for sitting; use 翘二郎腿 only when describing this specific crossed-ankle posture.

noun
crossed-legs sitting posture (one ankle on the opposite knee)

Examples

  • 二郎腿。
    Kāi huì de shí hou bú yào qiào èr láng tuǐ.
    Don't cross your legs during the meeting.
  • 二郎腿，。
    Tā qiào zhe èr láng tuǐ kàn diàn shì, kàn qǐ lái hěn fàng sōng.
    He was watching TV with his legs crossed, looking very relaxed.
  • ，二郎腿。
    Zuò zī lǐ yí zhōng, qiào èr láng tuǐ bèi rèn wéi bú tài lǐ mào.
    In sitting etiquette, crossing your legs is considered not very polite.

Origin

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.

二郎Erlang
二èrsecond郎lángman
偏正Modifier + head
腿tuǐleg

二郎 names Erlang, 腿 is leg, so 二郎腿 describes a crossed-leg posture.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

二 is drawn as two parallel strokes, where the number of strokes shows the amount.

Open 二 →

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
邑邑yìcounty; town
Sound part声符shēngfú
良
良liáng郎láng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

郎 combines 良, which gives the sound, with 邑, meaning county or town.

Open 郎 →

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
肉肉ròuflesh
Sound part声符shēngfú
退
退tuì腿tuǐ
Same sound today

The 肉 part is flesh, showing a body part; the 退 part gives the sound.

Open 腿 →

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