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扫帚 (sào zhou) — broom

Definition

noun
broom
Measure word · 把

Examples

  • 扫帚。
    Qǐng bǎ sào zhou fàng zài mén hòu.
    Please put the broom behind the door.
  • 扫帚。
    Zhè bǎ sào zhou shì yòng zhú zi zuò de.
    This broom is made of bamboo.
  • 扫帚。
    Tā měi tiān zǎo chén dōu yòng sào zhou sǎo yuàn zi.
    He sweeps the yard with a broom every morning.

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.

扫sǎosweep
帚zhǒubroom

“扫” points to sweeping and “帚” names the broom, together forming the word for a sweeping broom.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 掃; 扫 is its simplified writing.

The form 掃 draws a hand with a broomstick, the thing used for sweeping.

Open 扫 →

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

帚 originally drew a broom, with bristles on top and a tied handle below. In the modern shape, the top resembles 肀 and the lower parts can be seen as 冖 over 巾, but this is only a later breakdown.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Cleaning & Chores

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