左腿 (zuǒ tuǐ) — left leg | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

left leg

Measure word · 条

Examples

左腿，。
Tā de zuǒ tuǐ shòu shāng le, xū yào xiū xi.
His left leg is injured; he needs to rest.
，左腿。
Pǎo bù shí, zuǒ tuǐ bǐ yòu tuǐ gèng yòng lì.
When running, the left leg exerts more force than the right leg.
左腿。
Tā xí guàn yòng zuǒ tuǐ tī qiú.
He is used to kicking the ball with his left leg.

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.

左 means left, and 腿 means leg, naming the left leg.

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.

𠂇工左

Meaning part形符xíngfú

工工gōngwork

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠂇

𠂇𠂇左zuǒ

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

左 grew from the picture 𠂇, a left hand, with 工 (work) added later.

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

肉肉ròuflesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

退

退tuì腿tuǐ

Same sound today

The 肉 part is flesh, showing a body part; the 退 part gives the sound.

Appears in

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