帐幕 (zhàng mù) — tent (large or formal, e.g., military, nomadic, ceremonial); canopy, awning

Definition

A formal or literary word for a large tent or canopy — used in military, nomadic, and ceremonial contexts rather than ordinary camping.

noun
tent (large or formal, e.g., military, nomadic, ceremonial)canopyawning
Measure word · 顶
Easily confused

Examples

  • 帐幕，。
    Yóu mù mín zú zhù zài zhàng mù lǐ, suí zhe jì jié qiān yí.
    Nomadic peoples live in tents and migrate with the seasons.
  • 帐幕。
    Jūn duì zài yě wài dā qǐ le lín shí zhàng mù.
    The army set up temporary tents in the field.
  • 帐幕。
    Jié rì guǎng chǎng shàng zhī qǐ le jù dà de zhàng mù.
    A huge canopy was erected on the festival square.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

帐zhàngtent
幕mùcurtain/canopy

帐 and 幕 both refer to a covering or canopy, so the word means a tent.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 帳; 帐 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
巾巾jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
長
長cháng帳zhàng
Same sound today

The traditional form 帳 is made from 巾, a cloth shape, plus 長, which gives the sound. The simplified 帐 is a shorthand; its right side is not the historical sound part.

Open 帐 →

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
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
莫
莫mò幕mù
Same sound today

幕 combines 莫 above 巾 (cloth); 莫 gives the sound.

Open 幕 →

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