唇膏 (chún gāo) — lipstick | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

lipstick

Measure word · 支

Examples

唇膏。
Tā mǎi le yì zhī xīn chún gāo.
She bought a new lipstick.
唇膏。
Zhè zhī chún gāo de yán sè hěn shì hé nǐ.
This lipstick's color suits you well.
，唇膏。
Wǒ xí guàn xiān tú rùn chún gāo, zài tú chún gāo.
I'm used to applying lip balm first, then lipstick.

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.

膏gāoointment

唇 gives lip and 膏 gives ointment, so the word names a lip ointment.

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.

辰口唇

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

辰

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

唇 is built from 口, meaning mouth, and 辰, which points to its sound.

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

肉肉ròumeat

Sound part声符shēngfú

高

高gāo膏gào

Same sound today

膏 combines 高 as a sound part with 肉 (meat) as its meaning part.

Appears in

Toiletries & Cosmetics

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