拼图 (pīn tú) — jigsaw puzzle; picture puzzle (game or activity where pieces are assembled to form an image)

Definition

noun
jigsaw puzzlepicture puzzle (game or activity where pieces are assembled to form an image)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 拼图，。
    Zhè ge pīn tú yǒu wǔ bǎi kuài, zhōu mò wǒ men yì qǐ pīn ba.
    This jigsaw puzzle has 500 pieces; let's do it together this weekend.
  • 拼图，。
    Tā xǐ huan fù zá de pīn tú, yóu qí shì zì rán fēng jǐng de.
    She likes complex picture puzzles, especially ones with natural scenery.
  • 拼图，。
    Mǎi yì hé pīn tú sòng gěi hái zi, néng xùn liàn nài xìng.
    Buy a box of puzzle to give to a child—it can train patience.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

拼pīnassemble
图túpicture

拼 means putting pieces together, and 图 means the picture formed.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
并
并bìng拼
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 拼, the left part 扌 shows a hand, and the right part 并 gives the sound.

Open 拼 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 圖; 图 is its simplified writing.

  • 囗囗wéiwalled city
  • 啚啚bǐ

The traditional form 圖 pairs 囗, a walled city, with 啚, an early form meaning remote areas or territory. The simplified 图 is a later abbreviation.

Open 图 →
Appears in
Games & Puzzles

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