扫雪 (sǎo xuě) — to clear snow, to shovel snow

Definition

A verb-object phrase meaning 'to clear/shovel snow'. 雪 (xuě) is the object — insert other words or measures between 扫 and 雪 (e.g. 扫一次雪, 扫了两天雪).

verb
to clear snowto shovel snow
Easily confused

Examples

  • 扫雪。
    Dōng tiān yào jì de sǎo xuě.
    Remember to clear snow in winter.
  • 扫雪。
    Tā zhèng zài yuàn zi lǐ sǎo xuě.
    He is clearing snow in the yard.
  • 。
    Zuó tiān wǒ sǎo le yí gè xiǎo shí de xuě.
    Yesterday I shoveled snow for an hour.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

扫sǎosweep
雪xuěsnow

扫 (sweep) and 雪 (snow) combine to mean clearing snow.

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 →

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
雨雨yǔrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
彗
彗huì雪xuě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

雪 pairs 雨, showing rain, with 彗, giving the sound.

Open 雪 →

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