写信人 (xiě xìn rén) — letter writer, author of a letter

Definition

noun

letter writerauthor of a letter

Measure word · 个

写信人。
Zhè wèi xiě xìn rén xiě le hěn duō xìn.
This letter writer has written many letters.
写信人，。
Zuò wéi xiě xìn rén, tā de xìn hěn yǒu gǎn qíng.
As a letter writer, his letters are very emotional.
写信人。
Nà wèi xiě xìn rén shì zhù míng de zuò jiā.
That letter writer is a famous author.

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.

写信write a letter

动宾Verb + object

The idea of 写 a 信 points to the 人 who does it.

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 寫; 写 is its simplified writing.

宀舄寫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀mián

Sound part声符shēngfú

舄

舄xì寫xiě

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寫 combines 宀 with 舄 for the sound; this note is about 寫, not the simplified 写.

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

言言yánwords

Sound part声符shēngfú

人

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.