Definition
楣 is a bound form (b.f.) meaning 'lintel' — the horizontal beam above a door or window. It rarely appears alone; instead, it's used in the compound 门楣 (mén méi), which literally means 'door lintel' but also carries the metaphorical meaning of 'family status' or 'prestige' in idioms like 光耀门楣 ('to bring honor to one's family'). As a bound form, 楣 cannot stand as a word by itself in modern Chinese; always expect it as part of a longer word.
b.f.
(bound form) lintel (horizontal beam over a door or window)
Examples
- 。Zhè dòng lǎo fángzi de mén méi yǐjīng yǒuxiē pòsǔn le.The door lintel of this old house is already somewhat damaged.
- ，。Tā nǔlì xuéxí, xīwàng jiānglái néng guāngyào mén méi.He studies hard, hoping to bring honor to his family in the future.
- 。Gǔdài jiànzhú de mén méi shàng chángcháng diāokè zhe jīngměi de tú'àn.On the door lintels of ancient buildings, exquisite patterns were often carved.
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