拇指 (mǔ zhǐ) — thumb (hand); big toe (foot) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

拇指 is specifically the thumb (hand) or big toe (foot) — the largest digit on each. Contrast with 手指, the general word for any finger.

noun

thumb (hand)big toe (foot)

Measure word · 只

Examples

，拇指。
Dǎ qiú shí, tā de mǔ zhǐ shòu shāng le.
He injured his thumb while playing ball.
，拇指。
Tā bù xiǎo xīn tī dào le mén, jiǎo mǔ zhǐ téng sǐ le.
He accidentally kicked the door and his big toe hurts like crazy.
，拇指。
Tā dài shàng xīn jiè zhi, mǔ zhǐ yǒu diǎn jǐn.
She put on a new ring and it's a bit tight on her thumb.

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.

拇mǔthumb/big toe

拇 refers to the thumb/big toe itself, and 指 refers to a digit; 拇指 names that digit.

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.

扌母拇

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

母

母mǔ拇mǔ

Same sound today

拇 has 扌, the hand form written fully as 手, and 母, which gives the sound.

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 7-9 Body Parts

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