星球 (xīng qiú) — celestial body (planet, star, moon, etc.) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal, written term for a celestial body (planet, moon, star). Broader and more technical than 月亮 or 星星, which are everyday words for specific objects.

noun

celestial body (planet, star, moon, etc.)

Measure word · 颗

Examples

星球。
Dì qiú shì yì kē měi lì de xīng qiú.
Earth is a beautiful planet.
星球。
Kē xué jiā fā xiàn le xīn de xīng qiú.
Scientists discovered a new celestial body.
星球？
Nǐ néng kàn dào nà kē xīng qiú ma?
Can you see that planet?

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.

星 indicates a star or celestial body, and 球 is a sphere, so the word means a spherical heavenly body.

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.

晶晶jīngtwinkling stars
生生shēng

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

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

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

求

求qiú球qiú

Same sound today

球 is built from 玉, meaning jade, and 求, which gives the sound.

Appears in

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