果盘 (guǒ pán) — fruit platter; tray or dish for serving fruit

Definition

noun

fruit plattertray or dish for serving fruit

Measure word · 个

果盘。
Zhuō shàng yǒu yí gè jīng měi de guǒ pán.
There is an exquisite fruit tray on the table.
果盘。
Fú wù yuán bǎ guǒ pán fàng dào zhuō zi shàng.
The waiter put the fruit platter on the table.
果盘。
Zhè ge guǒ pán shì yòng zhú zi zuò de.
This fruit tray is made of bamboo.

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.

盘pánplate/tray

“果” (fruit) and “盘” (plate/tray) mean a plate or tray for fruit.

Characters in this word

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

果 originally drew fruits hanging on a tree.

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 盤; 盘 is its simplified writing.

般皿盤

Meaning part形符xíngfú

皿皿mǐn

Sound part声符shēngfú

般

Same sound today

The traditional form 盤 pairs 般, which gives the sound, with 皿, a vessel. This note is about 盤, not the simplified 盘.