戒指 (jiè zhi) — ring (worn on finger) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Specifically a ring worn on the finger (jewelry). 环 and 圈子 are abstract/literal rings or loops, not jewelry.

noun

ring (worn on finger)

Measure word · 枚

Examples

，戒指。
Wǒ nǚ péng you shēng rì nà tiān, wǒ sòng le tā yì méi jiè zhi.
I gave her a ring on her birthday.
戒指，。
Zhè méi jiè zhi shì wǒ wài pó liú gěi wǒ de, fēi cháng yǒu jì niàn yì yì.
This ring was left to me by my grandmother and has great sentimental value.
戒指。
Tā měi tiān shàng bān dōu dài zhe nà méi jiè zhi.
She wears that ring to work every day.

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.

戒 gives the ring, 指 gives the finger it goes on.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

戈廾戒

戈戈gēhalberd
廾廾gǒnghands

戒 shows 廾 (hands) and 戈 (a halberd) together: hands holding up a weapon as a warning.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

扌旨指

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

旨

旨zhǐ指zhǐ

Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Footwear & Accessories 2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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