夸脱 (kuā tuō) — (classifier) quart (a unit of volume, about 0.946 liter)

Definition

A classifier for quart, a unit of volume equal to about 0.95 liters (1/4 of a gallon). Used mainly for measuring liquids like milk or beer.

classifier
quart (a unit of volume, about 0.946 liter)

Examples

  • 夸脱。
    Wǒ mǎi le yì kuā tuō niú nǎi.
    I bought a quart of milk.
  • 夸脱。
    Zhè tǒng pí jiǔ yǒu wǔ kuā tuō.
    This barrel of beer has five quarts.
  • 夸脱。
    Měi jiā lún děng yú sì kuā tuō.
    One gallon equals four quarts.

Origin

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
大大dàman
Sound part声符shēngfú
于
于yú夸kuā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

夸 is built from 大, a standing man, above 于, which gives the sound.

Open 夸 →

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 脫; 脱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì脫tuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 脫 puts ⺼ (meat) beside 兌, which gives the sound; the simplified 脱 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 脱 →
Appears in
Units & Measurement

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