拉链 (lā liàn) — zipper | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

zipper

Measure word · 条

Examples

拉链。
Wǒ de shū bāo shàng de lā liàn huài le.
The zipper on my backpack is broken.
拉链，。
Qǐng bǎ lā liàn lā shàng, wài miàn hěn lěng.
Please zip up the zipper, it's cold outside.
拉链。
Zhè tiáo kù zi de lā liàn shì hēi sè de.
The zipper on these pants is black.

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.

拉 means to pull and 链 means chain; the combination describes a chain that can be pulled, i.e. a zipper.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

手手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

立

立lì拉lā

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拉 pairs 手 (hand) with 立, a component that supplies the sound.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鏈; 链 is its simplified writing.

金連鏈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

連

連lián鏈liàn

Same sound today

The traditional form 鏈 pairs 金 (metal) with 連, which gives the sound; the simplified 链 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical parts.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Clothing

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