后缀 (hòu zhuì) — (linguistics) suffix

Definition

A linguistic term for a suffix — a morpheme attached to the END of a word to change its meaning or part of speech (e.g., 子). Contrast with 前缀 (prefix, attached to the start) and 中缀 (infix, inserted inside).

noun
(linguistics) suffix

Examples

  • ，后缀。
    Zài yǔ yán xué zhōng, hòu zhuì cháng yòng yú gǎi biàn cí xìng.
    In linguistics, suffixes are often used to change part of speech.
  • ""后缀。
    " Zǐ " shì yí gè cháng yòng de hòu zhuì.
    "子" is a common suffix.
  • 后缀，。
    Jiā shàng zhè ge hòu zhuì hòu, cí yì fā shēng le biàn huà.
    After adding this suffix, the word meaning changed.

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.

后hòuafter
缀zhuìattach

后 means after and 缀 means attach, so the meaning is something attached after a base.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

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 綴; 缀 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
叕
叕zhuó綴zhuì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 缀, the shape is explained by the traditional form 綴, which combines 糸 (silk) with 叕 as a sound part.

Open 缀 →

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