卷尾猴 (juǎn wěi hóu) — capuchin monkey

Definition

noun
capuchin monkey
Measure word · 只

Examples

  • 卷尾猴。
    Dòng wù yuán lǐ yǒu yì zhī juǎn wěi hóu.
    There is a capuchin monkey in the zoo.
  • 卷尾猴，。
    juǎn wěi hóu De wěi ba hěn cháng, néng juǎn zhù shù zhī.
    The capuchin monkey's tail is long and can curl around branches.
  • 卷尾猴。
    Wǒ zài diàn shì shàng kàn guò juǎn wěi hóu.
    I've seen a capuchin monkey on TV.

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.

卷尾curled tail
卷juàncurl尾wěitail
偏正Modifier + head
猴hóumonkey

卷尾 describes a curled tail, and 猴 names a monkey, so the word denotes a monkey with that feature.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
卩卩jiékneeling person
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢍏
𢍏𢍏卷juàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 卷, 卩 shows a kneeling person, while 𢍏 gives the sound and may also suggest bending or rolling, as in a reel of books.

Open 卷 →

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

The form 尾 combines 尸 (person) and 毛 (hair; feather).

Open 尾 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
侯
侯hóu猴hóu(r)
Same sound today

猴 pairs 犭, the animal part, with 侯, which gives the sound.

Open 猴 →

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