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易碎 (yì suì) — fragile, easily broken (of objects)

Definition

Used as an adjective for objects that break easily — commonly seen on packaging ('Fragile, handle with care'). Often appears as a label before a noun, e.g. 易碎物品.

verb
fragileeasily broken (of objects)

Examples

  • “易碎，。”
    Zhè ge xiāng zi shàng xiě zhe "yì suì, qǐng xiǎo xīn bān yùn."
    This box says 'Fragile, please handle with care.'
  • 易碎，。
    Bō li zhì pǐn hěn yì suì, yùn shū shí yào tè bié zhù yì.
    Glass products are very fragile; special care is needed during transport.
  • 易碎。
    Zhè xiē yì suì wù pǐn xū yào yòng pào mò bāo guǒ hǎo.
    These fragile items need to be wrapped well with foam.

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.

易yìeasily
碎suìbreak

易 means easily and 碎 means break, so it is easily broken.

Characters in this word

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

The early form of 易 was a drawing of a filled container, not a chameleon. It showed something full that could be given out.

Open 易 →

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
石石shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
卒
卒zú碎suì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

碎 pairs 石 (stone) with 卒, which gives the sound; the stone part is tied to the sense of breaking or smashing.

Open 碎 →
Appears in
Texture & Quality

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