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木屋 (mù wū) — log cabin

Definition

noun
log cabin
Measure word · 间

Examples

  • 木屋。
    Tā men zhù zài hú biān de mù wū lǐ.
    They live in a log cabin by the lake.
  • 木屋。
    Zhè zuò mù wū shì yòng mù tou jiàn de.
    This log cabin is built from wood.
  • 木屋。
    Wǒ xǐ huan zài mù wū lǐ kàn shū.
    I like to read in the log cabin.

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.

木mùwood
屋wūhouse

木 indicates wood and 屋 indicates a house, together meaning a wooden dwelling.

Characters in this word

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

木 is drawn as a tree, with branches above and roots below.

Open 木 →

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
室室shìroom
Sound part声符shēngfú
𡉉
𡉉𡉉屋wū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

屋 comes from 室, meaning room, with 𡉉 for sound; its upper part later changed into an unrelated shape.

Open 屋 →
Appears in
Buildings & StructuresHome & Housing

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