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图案 (tú àn) — pattern (decorative design); design (graphic motif)

Definition

图案 is a decorative pattern or motif (on fabric, wallpaper, products). Compared with 花纹 (natural/textile patterns) and 图纸 (technical blueprints), 图案 emphasizes designed graphic motifs.

noun
pattern (decorative design)design (graphic motif)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 图案。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu shàng de tú àn hěn piào liang.
    The pattern on this piece of clothing is very pretty.
  • 图案。
    Wǒ xǐ huan zhè ge qiáng zhǐ shàng de tú àn.
    I like the pattern on this wallpaper.
  • 图案。
    Zhè ge chǎn pǐn de tú àn shè jì dé hěn jiǎn dān.
    The design of this product is very simple.

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.

图túpicture
案àndesign

图 points to graphic forms, and 案 to designed patterns, together meaning a decorative design.

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 圖; 图 is its simplified writing.

  • 囗囗wéiwalled city
  • 啚啚bǐ

The traditional form 圖 pairs 囗, a walled city, with 啚, an early form meaning remote areas or territory. The simplified 图 is a later abbreviation.

Open 图 →

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
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
安
安ān案àn
Same sound today

案 pairs 木, a wood/tree shape, with 安, which is used for its sound.

Open 案 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Photography & Design

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