弯子 (wān zǐ) — bend, turn, curve | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

bendturncurve

Measure word · 个

弯子。
Zhè tiáo lù yǒu yí gè wān zǐ.
This road has a bend.
弯子。
Kāi chē de shí hou yào xiǎo xīn qián miàn de wān zǐ.
When driving, be careful of the turn ahead.
弯子。
Zhè tiáo hé yǒu yí gè dà wān zǐ.
This river has a big bend.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

弯 gives the sense of a bend, and 子 turns it into a thing.

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 彎; 弯 is its simplified writing.

弓䜌彎

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

䜌

䜌䜌彎wān

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

The traditional form 彎 pairs 弓 (bow) with 䜌 as a sound part; the simplified 弯 is a later shorthand.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.