松紧带 (sōng jǐn dài) — elastic cord; elastic band

Definition

noun
elastic cordelastic band
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 松紧带，。
    Zhè tiáo sōng jǐn dài tài sōng le, xū yào huàn yì tiáo.
    This elastic cord is too loose; I need to replace it.
  • 松紧带。
    Tā yòng sōng jǐn dài bǎ tóu fa zhā le qǐ lái.
    She tied her hair up with an elastic band.
  • 松紧带，。
    Kù zi de sōng jǐn dài duàn le, dé fèng yí xià.
    The elastic in the pants broke; I need to sew it.

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.

松紧loose and tight
松sōngloose紧jǐntight
联合Side by side
带dàiband

“松” and “紧” describe looseness and tightness, and “带” names the band that stretches.

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
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng松sōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

松 uses 木 (wood) to show it is a tree, and 公 to give the sound.

Open 松 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 緊; 紧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
臤
臤qiān緊jǐn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 緊 pairs 糸 (thread) with 臤 as a sound part; the simplified 紧 is a later shorthand.

Open 紧 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 帶; 带 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 帶 was drawn as a woven belt; the simplified 带 is a later shorthand.

Open 带 →

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