植被 (zhí bèi) — vegetation; plant cover

Definition

noun

vegetationplant cover

植被。
Zhè piàn dì qū de zhí bèi fēi cháng mào shèng.
The vegetation in this area is very lush.
植被。
Bǎo hù zhí bèi duì fáng zhǐ shuǐ tǔ liú shī hěn zhòng yào.
Protecting vegetation is important for preventing soil erosion.
植被。
Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū quán qiú zhí bèi de biàn huà.
Scientists are studying changes in global vegetation.

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.

植zhíplant life

植被 puts 植, plant life, together with 被, cover, to describe the layer of plants covering an area.

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.

木直植

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree

Sound part声符shēngfú

直

Same sound today

植 is made from 木, a tree, and 直, which gives the sound.

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

衣衣yīclothing

Sound part声符shēngfú

皮

皮pí被bèi

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

被 pairs 衣 (clothing) with 皮, which gives the sound.

Appears in