弹壳 (dàn ké) — cartridge case; shell casing

Definition

noun

cartridge caseshell casing

Measure word · 个

弹壳。
Tā cóng dì shàng jiǎn qǐ le yí gè dàn ké.
He picked up a cartridge case from the ground.
弹壳。
Qiāng lǐ de dàn ké yǐ jīng yòng wán le.
The cartridge cases in the gun are all used up.
弹壳。
Tā xǐ huan shōu jí jiù de dàn ké.
He likes to collect old cartridge cases.

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.

The sense of 弹 as bullet and 壳 as casing gives a cartridge case.

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 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

弓單彈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

單

單dān彈tán

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a shorthand.

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 殼; 壳 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

㱿

㱿㱿殼ké(r)

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

The traditional form 殼 is built from 几 (the meaning part) and 㱿 (the sound part); the simplified 壳 is a later shorthand.

Appears in