水藻 (shuǐ zǎo) — algae | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

algae

水藻。
Chí táng lǐ yǒu hěn duō shuǐ zǎo.
There is a lot of algae in the pond.
水藻。
Kē xué jiā yán jiū shuǐ zǎo de shēng wù tè xìng.
Scientists study the biological characteristics of algae.
水藻。
Xià tiān hú miàn shàng de shuǐ zǎo róng yì bào fā.
Algae on the lake surface easily blooms in summer.

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.

藻zǎoalgae

The sense of 水 and 藻 names algae living in water.

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.

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

艹澡藻

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss

Sound part声符shēngfú

澡

Same sound today

藻 is built from 艹, a grass sign, placed over 澡, which provides the sound zǎo.

Appears in