气窗 (qì chuāng) — transom window; fanlight (a small window above a door)

Definition

A 气窗 is a small window set above a door or in a wall, typically used for ventilation and light. The term is common in older Chinese architecture and is not used for regular windows.

noun
transom windowfanlight (a small window above a door)
Measure word · 扇

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè ge fáng jiān de shàng miàn yǒu yí gè xiǎo qì chuāng.
    There is a small transom window above in this room.
  • 气窗。
    Nà shàn mén shàng de qì chuāng kě yǐ dǎ kāi tōng fēng.
    The fanlight above that door can be opened for ventilation.
  • 气窗。
    Lǎo fáng zi de qì chuāng tōng cháng yǒu jīng měi de huā wén.
    Transom windows in old houses often have exquisite patterns.

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.

气qìair
窗chuāngwindow

气 (air) narrows 窗 (window) to a small window for ventilation.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

窗 combines 穴 (hole) with 囱 (window), giving the sense of an opening used as a window.

Open 窗 →

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