南中国海 (nán zhōng guó hǎi) — South China Sea

Definition

noun

South China Sea

南中国海。
nán zhōng guó hǎi Shì zhòng yào de hǎi shàng háng dào.
The South China Sea is an important maritime waterway.
南中国海。
Xǔ duō guó jiā zài nán zhōng guó hǎi yǒu lǐng tǔ zhēng yì.
Many countries have territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
南中国海。
nán zhōng guó hǎi De yú yè zī yuán fēi cháng fēng fù.
The fishery resources of the South China Sea are very abundant.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

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 國; 国 is its simplified writing.

囗或國

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéiclosure

Sound part声符shēngfú

或

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

The traditional form 國 uses 囗 to show closure and 或 to give the sound.

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

氵每海

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

每

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

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.