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案子 (àn zi) — long table, counter; (colloquial) case, matter, project, job

Definition

案子 has two unrelated senses: the literal 'long table / counter' (as in putting things on the table) and the colloquial 'case, matter' (legal or business). Choose the sense by context — furniture vs. affair.

noun
long tablecounter(colloquial) casematterprojectjob
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 。
    Tā bǎ wén jiàn dōu duī zài àn zi shàng.
    He piled all the documents on the counter.
  • 案子。
    Zhè ge àn zi yǐ jīng diào chá le sān gè yuè.
    This case has been under investigation for three months.
  • 案子。
    Nà ge àn zi jiāo gěi xīn lái de lǜ shī chǔ lǐ.
    That case was handed over to the new lawyer to handle.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

案àntable/case
子zǐsuffix

案 names a table, counter, or case; 子 completes the word 案子.

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mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
安
安ān案àn
Same sound today

案 pairs 木, a wood/tree shape, with 安, which is used for its sound.

Open 案 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
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