榴弹 (liú dàn) — high-explosive shell; grenade

Definition

noun

high-explosive shellgrenade

Measure word · 颗

榴弹。
Bù duì fā shè le liú dàn.
The troops fired high-explosive shells.
榴弹。
Dí rén shǐ yòng le liú dàn.
The enemy used high-explosive shells.
榴弹。
Zhè zhǒng liú dàn wēi lì hěn dà.
This type of high-explosive shell is very powerful.

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.

榴liúpomegranate

'榴' evokes the pomegranate-like shape of the shell, and '弹' names the explosive projectile.

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.

木留榴

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

留

Same sound today

The left side 木 marks a tree, while the right side 留 gives the character its sound.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

弓單彈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

單

單dān彈tán

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a shorthand.

Appears in