冷敷 (lěng fū) — cold compress | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A cold compress or the act of applying one, used to reduce pain or swelling. Pairs with 做 ('do/apply') rather than a measure word.

noun

cold compress

Examples

冷敷。
Yī shēng jiàn yì měi tiān zuò liǎng cì lěng fū.
The doctor recommends doing a cold compress twice a day.
冷敷。
Zhè ge lěng fū kě yǐ jiǎn qīng téng tòng.
This cold compress can reduce pain.
冷敷。
Tā mǎi le yí gè lěng fū fàng zài bīng xiāng lǐ.
She bought a cold compress and put it in the fridge.

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.

冷 describes the temperature, while 敷 refers to applying a compress, giving a cold compress.

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.

冫令冷

Meaning part形符xíngfú

冫Written in full as仌bīngice

Sound part声符shēngfú

令

令lìng冷lěng

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

冷 uses 冫, the ice form, with 令 as a sound part, to mean cold as ice.

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

攵Written in full as攴pūhand with whip; action

Sound part声符shēngfú

尃

尃fū敷fū

Same sound today

敷 pairs 尃, giving its sound and the sense of distribute, with 攵, a hand with whip showing action.

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