卷笔刀 (juǎn bǐ dāo) — pencil sharpener

Definition

noun
pencil sharpener
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 卷笔刀。
    Wǒ de juǎn bǐ dāo zhǎo bú dào le.
    I can't find my pencil sharpener.
  • 卷笔刀，。
    Zhè ge juǎn bǐ dāo hěn hǎo yòng, xiāo qiān bǐ hěn kuài.
    This pencil sharpener is easy to use and sharpens pencils quickly.
  • 卷笔刀。
    Qǐng bǎ juǎn bǐ dāo fàng jìn shū bāo lǐ.
    Please put the pencil sharpener in your backpack.

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.

卷笔curl a pencil
卷juàncurl/sharpen笔bǐpencil
动宾Verb + object
刀dāotool

卷笔 means curling or sharpening a pencil, and 刀 is a tool, so it names a pencil sharpener.

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 →

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 筆; 笔 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
聿
聿yù筆bǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The simplified 笔 is based on the traditional form 筆, which puts 竹 (bamboo) beside 聿 (writing brush). 聿 already meant the brush and supplied the sound; 竹 was added later to show it was made of bamboo.

Open 笔 →

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

The shape of 刀 comes from a simple picture of a knife.

Open 刀 →

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