吸盘 (xī pán) — suction cup; (zoology) sucker | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

suction cup(zoology) sucker

Measure word · 个

Examples

吸盘。
Tā bǎ xī pán xī zài chuāng shàng.
He stuck the suction cup to the window.
吸盘。
Zhè zhǒng wán jù xī pán kě yǐ shè dào qiáng shàng.
This kind of toy suction cup can be shot onto the wall.
吸盘。
Zhāng yú de chù shǒu shàng yǒu hěn duō xī pán.
An octopus's tentacles have many suckers.

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.

吸 and 盘 combine suck and plate, giving a small disc that holds by suction.

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.

口及吸

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

及

及jí吸xī

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

吸 pairs 口 (mouth) with 及, which gives the sound and relates to grabbing, so the shape suggests grabbing through the mouth.

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 盤; 盘 is its simplified writing.

般皿盤

Meaning part形符xíngfú

皿皿mǐn

Sound part声符shēngfú

般

般bān盤pán

Same sound today

The traditional form 盤 pairs 般, which gives the sound, with 皿, a vessel. This note is about 盤, not the simplified 盘.

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