懒腰 (lǎn yāo) — a stretch (of one's body, usually after being stationary)

Definition

懒腰 is a colloquial noun for a leisurely body stretch (typically after sitting or waking). It almost always appears as 伸个懒腰 — the verb 伸 and the measure word 个 are fixed; you won't say 伸懒腰 in writing.

noun
a stretch (of one's body, usually after being stationary)

Examples

  • 懒腰，。
    Tā shēn le yí gè lǎn yāo, gǎn jué shū fu duō le.
    He stretched and felt much more comfortable.
  • ，懒腰。
    Zuò jiǔ le, zhàn qǐ lái shēn gè lǎn yāo ba.
    You've been sitting for a long time; stand up and stretch.
  • 懒腰，。
    Xiǎo māo shēn le gè lǎn yāo, yòu shuì zháo le.
    The kitten stretched and fell asleep again.

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.

懒lǎnlazy
腰yāowaist

懒 and 腰 picture a lazy waist, the body that needs stretching.

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 懶; 懒 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
賴
賴lài懶lǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 懶 pairs 忄 (heart) with 賴, which gives the sound; the simplified 懒 is a later shorthand.

Open 懒 →

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
⺼Written in full as肉ròuflesh
Sound part声符shēngfú
要
要yào腰yāo
Same sound today

The left part ⺼ is flesh; the right part 要 gives the sound.

Open 腰 →

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