松针 (sōng zhēn) — pine needle | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

pine needle

Measure word · 根

松针。
Dì shàng luò mǎn le sōng zhēn.
The ground is covered with fallen pine needles.
松针。
Tā yòng sōng zhēn biān le yí gè xiǎo lán zi.
She wove a small basket out of pine needles.
松针。
Zhè xiē sōng zhēn kě yǐ yòng lái pào chá.
These pine needles can be used to make tea.

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.

The 松 'pine' part describes the kind of 针 'needle'.

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

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 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

釒十針

Meaning part形符xíngfú

釒Written in full as金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

十

十shí針zhēn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.