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初一 (chū yī) — first day of a lunar month; Chinese New Year's Day (first day of the first lunar month); first-year student in junior high school (grade 7)

Definition

Two unrelated uses of the same spelling: (1) the first day of a lunar month, especially Chinese New Year (正月初一), and (2) grade 7 in mainland junior high.

noun
first day of a lunar monthChinese New Year's Day (first day of the first lunar month)first-year student in junior high school (grade 7)

Examples

  • 。
    Xià ge yuè chū yī shì chūn jié.
    The first day of next month is Spring Festival.
  • 初一。
    chū yī Nà tiān wǒ men quán jiā yì qǐ chī nián yè fàn.
    On New Year's Day, our whole family eats the New Year's Eve dinner together.
  • 初一，。
    Tā jīn nián shàng chū yī, xué xí hěn nǔ lì.
    He is in the first year of junior high school this year and studies very hard.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

初chūfirst
一yīone

初 gives the sense of first and 一 supplies the number one, naming the first day of a lunar month or the first year.

Characters in this word

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

初 combines 衤 (clothes) and 刀 (knife), showing the start of making clothes by cutting cloth.

Open 初 →

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

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →
Appears in
Months & DatesSchool & Education

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