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梭子 (suō zǐ) — shuttle (for weaving); cartridge clip, magazine

Definition

Two unrelated meanings share this word: a weaving shuttle (梭子 suōzi) and a gun's cartridge clip/magazine. The intended sense is usually clear from context — textiles vs. firearms.

noun
shuttle (for weaving)cartridge clipmagazine
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 梭子。
    Zhè wèi lǎo fǎng zhī gōng rén shǒu lǐ de suō zǐ fēi kuài dì chuān suō.
    The shuttle in this old textile worker's hand shuttles quickly.
  • 梭子。
    Tā bǎ zǐ dàn suō zǐ zhuāng jìn qiāng lǐ.
    He loaded the bullet clip into the gun.
  • 。
    Tā de sī xù rú suō zǐ bān lái huí chuān suō.
    His thoughts shuttle back and forth like a shuttle.

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.

梭suōshuttle
子zǐsuffix

梭 names the shuttle-like tool, and 子 completes the common word 梭子 for it.

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

梭 is built from 木, the wood part, and 夋, which gives its sound.

Open 梭 →

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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