橙子 (chéng zi) — orange | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

橙子 is a sweet orange. Use 橙子 for the common sweet orange; 橘子 is a smaller, looser-skinned tangerine/mandarin.

noun

orange

Measure word · 个

Examples

橙子。
Wǒ xiǎng chī yí gè chéng zi.
I want to eat an orange.
橙子。
Mā ma mǎi le sān gè chéng zi.
Mom bought three oranges.
橙子，。
Zhè ge chéng zi hěn tián, nǐ kuài cháng cháng.
This orange is very sweet, hurry and try it.

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.

橙chéngorange

橙 names the fruit, and 子 completes it as the ordinary word for an orange.

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.

木登橙

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree; wood

Sound part声符shēngfú

登

登dēng橙chéng

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

橙 pairs 木 (tree; wood) with 登, which gives its sound.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 Fruits

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