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小淘气 (xiǎo táo qì) — a mischievous or troublesome child; little rascal; urchin

Definition

noun
a mischievous or troublesome childlittle rascalurchin
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 小淘气。
    Nà ge xiǎo táo qì yòu zài yuàn zi lǐ wán ní bā.
    That little rascal is playing in the mud in the yard again.
  • 小淘气。
    Zhè hái zi shì bān shàng chū le míng de xiǎo táo qì.
    This kid is the class's notorious troublemaker.
  • ，小淘气。
    Bié bèi tā de wài biǎo piàn le, tā qí shí shì gè xiǎo táo qì.
    Don't be fooled by his appearance — he's actually a little mischief-maker.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

小xiǎolittle
淘气naughty
淘táomischievous气qìtemperament
偏正Modifier + head

小 gives a familiar little sense to 淘气, referring to a mischievous child.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 八八bāto divide; to separate
  • 丨丨gǔnsmall object

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Open 小 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
匋
匋táo淘táo
Same sound today

淘 is built from 氵, a water form, and 匋, which gives the sound táo.

Open 淘 →

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →
Appears in
Life Stages & AgePersonality & Traits

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