水罐 (shuǐ guàn) — water container (jug, pitcher, clay jar, jerry can, water bottle, etc.)

Definition

noun
water container (jug, pitcher, clay jar, jerry can, water bottle, etc.)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 水罐,。
    Tā ná zhe shuǐ guàn, wǎng bēi zi lǐ dào shuǐ.
    He held the water pitcher and poured water into the cup.
  • 水罐,。
    Zhè ge shuǐ guàn shì táo cí zuò de, kě yǐ bǎo cún hěn jiǔ.
    This clay jar is made of ceramic and can be stored for a long time.
  • ,。
    Qù shā mò lǚ xíng shí, jì de dài yí dà shuǐ guàn shuǐ.
    When traveling to the desert, remember to bring a big jug of water.

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.

水 names the contents, and 罐 names the vessel made to hold and pour them.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Open 水 →

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
缶缶fǒupottery
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn罐guàn(r)
Same sound today

The left part 缶 shows pottery, while the right part 雚 gives the pronunciation.

Open 罐 →

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