初二 (chū èr) — second day of the lunar month (especially of the first lunar month, i.e. the second day of Chinese New Year); second year of junior high school (Grade 8)

Definition

初二 is ambiguous: in lunar-calendar contexts it means the 2nd day of a month (especially 正月, the 2nd day of Chinese New Year); in school contexts it means Grade 8 (the second year of junior high, also called 初二年级).

noun
second day of the lunar month (especially of the first lunar month, i.e. the second day of Chinese New Year)second year of junior high school (Grade 8)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 初二，。
    Zhēng yuè chū èr, wǒ men yì jiā rén qù wài pó jiā bài nián.
    On the second day of the first lunar month, our whole family went to Grandma's house to pay New Year's greetings.
  • 初二，。
    Wǒ dì di jīn nián shàng chū èr le, gōng kè bǐ yǐ qián duō.
    My younger brother is in the second year of junior high this year; the homework is heavier than before.
  • 初二，。
    Chū yī de jiǎo zi chū èr de miàn, zhè shì běi fāng de xí sú.
    Jiaozi on the first day and noodles on the second day — that's a northern custom.

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chūordinal
二èrtwo

初 marks the sequence, and 二 gives the number, as in the second day or 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.

二 is drawn as two parallel strokes, where the number of strokes shows the amount.

Open 二 →

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