地界 (dì jiè) — boundary of a piece of land | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

boundary of a piece of land

Examples

地界。
Zhè kuài dì de dì jiè hěn qīng chǔ.
The boundary of this piece of land is very clear.
地界？
Liǎng jiā de dì jiè zài nǎ lǐ?
Where is the boundary between the two families' land?
地界。
Tā men zhèng zài cè liáng dì jiè.
They are measuring the boundary.

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.

界jièboundary

地 (land) and 界 (boundary) combine to mean the boundary of a piece of land.

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

也yě地dì

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.

田介界

Meaning part形符xíngfú

田田tiánfield

Sound part声符shēngfú

介

介jiè界jiè

Same sound today

界 is built from 田 (field) and 介. 田 carries the meaning, while 介 gives the sound.

Appears in

Geography & Landforms

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.