地摊 (dì tān) — street stall, vendor stand (with goods laid out…

Definition

noun

street stallvendor stand (with goods laid out on the ground for sale)

Measure word · 个

地摊。
Tā zài lù biān bǎi le yí gè dì tān.
He set up a street stall by the roadside.
地摊。
Wǒ jīng cháng zài dì tān shàng mǎi shuǐ guǒ.
I often buy fruit at street stalls.
地摊。
dì tān Jīng jì zuì jìn hěn shòu huān yíng.
The street stall economy has become very popular recently.

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.

地 refers to the ground, and 摊 is a stall; together they mean a stall set up on the ground.

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.

土也地

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

也

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

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

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 攤; 摊 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

難

難nán攤tān

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

The traditional form 攤 uses 手 (hand) and 難 for sound.