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桌布 (zhuō bù) — tablecloth

Definition

noun
tablecloth
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 桌布。
    Qǐng bǎ zhuō bù pù zài zhuō zi shàng.
    Please spread the tablecloth on the table.
  • 桌布。
    Zhè kuài zhuō bù de huā wén hěn hǎo kàn.
    The pattern on this tablecloth is very pretty.
  • 桌布。
    Chī wán fàn jì de bǎ zhuō bù xǐ yi xǐ.
    Remember to wash the tablecloth after eating.

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.

桌zhuōtable
布bùcloth

桌 'table' specifies the kind of 布 'cloth': a cloth for a table.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

桌 has 卓 on top, giving the sound and a sense of high, and 木 below, wood; the bottom of 卓 has merged into 木.

Open 桌 →

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
巾巾jīnkerchief
Sound part声符shēngfú
父
父fù布bù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

Open 布 →
Appears in
Kitchenware & Tableware

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