外包装 (wài bāo zhuāng) — outer packaging, external packing

Definition

noun

outer packagingexternal packing

Measure word · 个

外包装，。
Zhè ge wài bāo zhuāng hěn piào liang, lǐ miàn de dōng xī yí dìng hěn hǎo.
This outer packaging is very pretty; the thing inside must be very good.
外包装，。
Qǐng bǎo liú wài bāo zhuāng, fāng biàn tuì huò.
Please keep the outer packaging for easy returns.
外包装。
Yùn shū shí wài bāo zhuāng yào bǎo hù hǎo.
During shipping, the outer packaging must be well protected.

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.

包装packaging

联合Side by side

外 marks outer, while 包 and 装 describe wrapping and packing; the whole is outer packing.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

月

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

外 pairs 卜 with 月, a crescent moon; in its older form, the 卜 part had a horizontal bar extending outward, giving the sense of outside.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 包 pictures a fetus in a womb, or a baby wrapped in cloth.

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 裝; 装 is its simplified writing.

壯衣裝

Meaning part形符xíngfú

衣衣yīclothes

Sound part声符shēngfú

壯

壯zhuàng裝zhuāng

Same sound today

The traditional form 裝 pairs 衣 (clothes) with 壯 as a sound part; this story is about 裝, not the simplified 装.