左轮 (zuǒ lún) — revolver | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

revolver

Measure word · 把

Examples

左轮。
Zhè bǎ zuǒ lún shì tā de shōu cáng pǐn.
This revolver is his collectible.
左轮。
Lǎo diàn yǐng lǐ jīng cháng néng kàn dào zuǒ lún.
Revolvers are often seen in old movies.
左轮。
Tā xiǎo xīn dì gěi zuǒ lún zhuāng shàng le zǐ dàn.
He carefully loaded the revolver with bullets.

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 (left) and 轮 (wheel) combine to name a revolver, originally referring to its left-turning cylinder.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 輪; 轮 is its simplified writing.

車侖輪

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jūcarriage

Sound part声符shēngfú

侖

侖lún輪lún

Same sound today

The traditional form 輪 uses 車, a carriage, and 侖 for the sound; the simplified 轮 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

Military & Defense

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