客栈 (kè zhàn) — inn | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

inn

Measure word · 家

Examples

客栈，。
Zhè jiā kè zhàn hěn yǒu míng, hěn duō yóu kè dōu lái zhù.
This inn is very famous; many tourists come to stay here.
客栈。
Tā men zài shān lǐ zhǎo dào le yì jiān xiǎo kè zhàn.
They found a small inn in the mountains.
客栈。
Gǔ dài rén lǚ xíng shí cháng cháng zhù zài kè zhàn lǐ.
In ancient times, travelers often stayed in inns.

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.

栈zhànlodging

客栈 combines 客 (guest) and 栈 (lodging) to name an inn where guests stay.

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.

宀各客

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

各

各gè客kè

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

In 客, 宀 is a roof and 各 gives the sound; the character meant a guest.

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 棧; 栈 is its simplified writing.

木戔棧

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

戔

戔jiān棧zhàn

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

The traditional form 棧 has a 木 (wood) part and a 戔 part used for its sound; the simplified 栈 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

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