椅背 (yǐ bèi) — the back of a chair | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

the back of a chair

Examples

椅背，。
Zhè ge yǐ bèi hěn gāo, zuò zhe hěn shū fu.
The back of this chair is very high, sitting is very comfortable.
椅背。
yǐ bèi Shàng de mù tou liè kāi le.
The wood on the back of the chair cracked.
椅背。
Tā kào zài yǐ bèi shàng xiū xi.
He leaned on the back of the chair to rest.

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.

“椅” specifies the chair and “背” is the back part, giving the chair back.

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.

木奇椅

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

奇

奇qí椅yǐ

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

椅 combines 木 (wood) with 奇, which gives its sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

北月背

Meaning part形符xíngfú

月Written in full as肉ròumeat

Sound part声符shēngfú

北

北běi背bèi

Same sound today

背 was first written as 北; 北 gives the sound, and 肉 (meat, written as 月 here) was added to separate it from 北’s north meaning.

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