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加州 (Jiā zhōu) — California

Definition

Short colloquial name for California, used in everyday speech and writing. More casual than the full name 加利福尼亚州 (Jiālìfúníyà Zhōu).

noun
California

Examples

  • 加州。
    Wǒ dǎ suàn míng nián qù Jiā zhōu lǚ yóu.
    I plan to travel to California next year.
  • 加州，。
    Jiā zhōu De qì hòu fēi cháng yí rén, yáng guāng chōng zú.
    California's climate is very pleasant with plenty of sunshine.
  • 加州。
    Hěn duō kē jì gōng sī dōu shè zài Jiā zhōu.
    Many tech companies are based in California.

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.

加jiāCalifornia
州zhōustate

加 points to California and 州 means state, together naming the state of California.

Characters in this word

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

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

州 originally drew an islet in a river.

Open 州 →
Appears in
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