斜塔 (xié tǎ) — leaning tower

Definition

Literally 'tilted tower.' Almost always refers to the Leaning Tower of Pisa — 比萨斜塔 is the full name. Learners won't typically use this word on its own.

noun
leaning tower
Measure word · 座

Examples

  • 斜塔。
    Yì dà lì de bǐ sà xié tǎ shì shì jiè zhù míng de jiàn zhù.
    The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is a world-famous building.
  • 斜塔。
    Zhè zuò xié tǎ yǐ jīng qīng xié le jǐ bǎi nián.
    This leaning tower has been tilting for several hundred years.
  • 斜塔。
    Yóu kè men dōu zài xié tǎ qián pāi zhào liú niàn.
    Tourists are all taking photos in front of the leaning tower.

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.

斜xiéleaning
塔tǎtower

斜 describes a lean, and 塔 names the tower, yielding a leaning tower.

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
斗斗dòuladle/dipper
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú斜xié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

斜 pairs 斗, a ladle or dipper, with 余 for sound; the idea of scooping or drawing out was extended to mean a slant.

Open 斜 →

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
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
荅
荅dá塔tǎ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

塔 shows 土 (earth) for the meaning and 荅 (dá) for the sound.

Open 塔 →

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