手表 (shǒu biǎo) — wristwatch

Definition

noun
wristwatch
Measure word · 块, 只, 个

Examples

  • 手表。
    Zhè kuài shǒu biǎo shì xīn de.
    This wristwatch is new.
  • 手表。
    Wǒ sòng péng you yí kuài shǒu biǎo.
    I gave a friend a wristwatch.
  • 手表？
    Nǐ de shǒu biǎo zài nǎ r?
    Where is your wristwatch?

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.

手shǒuhand
表biǎowatch

手表: 表 watch worn on 手 hand gives the meaning of wristwatch.

Characters in this word

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

手 draws a five-fingered human hand: the top line is a bent middle finger, and the horizontal lines show the other four fingers.

Open 手 →

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

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.

Open 表 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 2HSK 2.0 Level 2Footwear & Accessories5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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