拖布 (tuō bù) — mop

Definition

noun
mop
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 拖布。
    Wǒ yòng tuō bù bǎ dì bǎn cā gān jìng le.
    I used the mop to wipe the floor clean.
  • 拖布。
    Chāo shì lǐ yǒu gè zhǒng tuō bù zài mài.
    The supermarket has all kinds of mops for sale.
  • 拖布。
    Zhè bǎ tuō bù yòng qǐ lái hěn shùn shǒu.
    This mop is very handy to use.

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.

拖tuōdrag
布bùcloth

A cloth used for dragging across the floor names a mop.

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shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
它
它tā拖tuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拖 uses 手 to show an action done with the hand, and 它 to give its sound.

Open 拖 →

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
巾巾jīnkerchief
Sound part声符shēngfú
父
父fù布bù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

Open 布 →

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