松软 (sōng ruǎn) — soft, spongy, loose (texture) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Adjective for things that are soft to the touch AND yield under pressure — like bread, pillows, or snow — not just ‘soft’ in a general sense.

adjective

softspongyloose (texture)

Examples

松软。
Zhè ge miàn bāo fēi cháng sōng ruǎn.
This bread is very soft and spongy.
松软，。
Xuě dì hěn sōng ruǎn, zǒu qǐ lái hěn shū fu.
The snow is loose, and it's comfortable to walk on.
松软，。
Wǒ mǎi le yí gè sōng ruǎn de zhěn tou, shuì jiào hěn shū fu.
I bought a soft pillow, and sleeping is very comfortable.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

松 means loose and 软 means soft, so together they describe a yielding, spongy texture.

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.

木公松

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.

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 軟; 软 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jūcarriage

Sound part声符shēngfú

耎

耎ruǎn軟ruǎn

Same sound today

The traditional form 軟 pairs 車 (carriage) with 耎 as a sound part; 耎 depicted a man under rain, and simplified 软 uses a later right side instead of 耎.

Appears in

Texture & Quality

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