冰片 (bīng piàn) — borneol (a crystalline compound used in traditi…

Definition

Borneol, a crystalline substance with a cool, camphor-like scent, used in traditional Chinese medicine and in perfumes/incense.

noun

borneol (a crystalline compound used in traditional Chinese medicine and perfumery)

Measure word · 片

冰片。
Zhè zhǒng yào lǐ hán yǒu bīng piàn.
This medicine contains borneol.
冰片。
Zhōng yī cháng yòng bīng piàn lái tí shén xǐng nǎo.
Traditional Chinese medicine often uses borneol to refresh the mind.
冰片。
bīng piàn Yǒu yì gǔ tè shū de xiāng wèi.
Borneol has a distinctive fragrance.

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.

冰片 names a crystalline drug, with 冰 suggesting ice and 片 suggesting a flake or slice.

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.

冫水冰

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

冫

仌bīng冰bīng

Same sound today

冰 adds 水 (water) to 冫, the short form of 仌; 冫 gives the sound, and 水 shows the meaning.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.