刑法典 (xíng fǎ diǎn) — penal code | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

penal code

Measure word · 部

刑法典。
Zhè ge guó jiā de xíng fǎ diǎn fēi cháng wán bèi.
This country's penal code is very comprehensive.
刑法典，。
Wǒ shàng xué qī xué le xíng fǎ diǎn, hái méi kàn wán.
I studied the penal code last semester and haven't finished reading it yet.
刑法典。
Lǜ shī zhèng zài chá yuè xíng fǎ diǎn wèi àn jiàn zuò zhǔn bèi.
The lawyer is looking up the penal code to prepare for the case.

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.

刑法criminal law

偏正Modifier + head

刑 (punishment), 法 (law), and 典 (code) combine to mean a code of criminal law.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

井

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刑 puts 刀 (knife) beside 井. The knife part shows the punishment idea, and 井 gives the sound.

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

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid

Sound part声符shēngfú

盍

盍hé法fǎ

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

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

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

典 puts 冊 (books) on a 丌 (table), showing official books resting on a table.