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沙包 (shā bāo) — sandbag; sand dune; small porcelain jug

Definition

沙包 most often means 'sandbag' — a bag of sand used for flood control, punching practice, or in children's games (沙包仗). The 'sand dune' sense is a less common regional use; the 'small porcelain jug' sense is a specialized museum/antique term.

noun
sandbagsand dunesmall porcelain jug
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 沙包。
    shā bāo Kě yǐ yòng lái fáng hóng.
    Sandbags can be used for flood control.
  • 沙包。
    Zhè piàn shā mò lǐ yǒu xǔ duō shā bāo.
    There are many sand dunes in this desert.
  • 沙包。
    Zhè ge shā bāo shì qīng dài de xiǎo cí hú.
    This small porcelain jug is from the Qing dynasty.

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.

沙shāsand
包bāobag

A 包 filled with 沙, giving a sandbag or sand mound.

Characters in this word

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

沙 puts 少 (dots) beside 水 (water), showing sand on a shoreline.

Open 沙 →

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

The shape of 包 pictures a fetus in a womb, or a baby wrapped in cloth.

Open 包 →
Appears in
Miscellaneous ObjectsSports & Athletics

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