动物油 (dòng wù yóu) — animal oil | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers to fats rendered from animals (e.g. lard, tallow), used in cooking. Often contrasted with 植物油 (plant-based oils like soybean or peanut oil).

noun

animal oil

Examples

动物油。
Zhè zhǒng dòng wù yóu shì cóng zhū shēn shàng tí qǔ de.
This animal oil is extracted from pigs.
动物油。
dòng wù yóu Zài gāo wēn xià róng yì biàn zhì.
Animal oil readily spoils at high temperatures.
动物油。
Tā gèng xǐ huan yòng dòng wù yóu lái zhà shí wù.
He prefers to use animal oil to fry food.

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.

动物animal

动dòngmoving物wùthing

偏正Modifier + head

动物 means moving living things and 油 is oil, so the oil comes from animals.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

重力動

Meaning part形符xíngfú

力力lìstrength

Sound part声符shēngfú

重

重zhòng動dòng

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

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

牛勿物

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

勿

勿wù物wù

Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

氵由油

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

由

由yóu油yóu

Same sound today

油 is built from 氵, a water part, and 由, which supplies the sound.

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