擀面杖 (gǎn miàn zhàng) — rolling pin | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

rolling pin

Measure word · 根

Examples

擀面杖。
Tā zhèng zài yòng gǎn miàn zhàng gǎn jiǎo zi pí.
She is using a rolling pin to roll out dumpling wrappers.
擀面杖。
Wǒ nǎi nai de gǎn miàn zhàng yòng le èr shí duō nián le.
My grandmother's rolling pin has been in use for over twenty years.
擀面杖，。
Zhè bǎ gǎn miàn zhàng shì mù tou zuò de, hěn hǎo yòng.
This rolling pin is made of wood and works very well.

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.

擀面roll dough

擀gǎnroll面miàndough

动宾Verb + object

擀面 (rolling dough) describes the purpose of the 杖 (rod), making a rolling pin.

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

幹

幹gàn擀gǎn

Same sound today

擀 combines 手 (hand), marking an action done with the hands, and 幹, which gives its sound.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

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

木丈杖

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

丈

丈zhàng杖zhàng

Same sound today

杖 is built from 木, the wood part, plus 丈, which gives the sound.

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