油嘴 (yóu zuǐ) — glib talker; spray nozzle, spray head | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

油嘴 has two unrelated senses: a 'glib talker' (a slick, persuasive speaker, often with a negative tone), and the nozzle/head on a sprayer. The meaning depends entirely on context.

noun

glib talkerspray nozzlespray head

Measure word · 个

Examples

油嘴。
Nà ge yóu zuǐ yòu zài piàn rén le.
That glib talker is lying to people again.
油嘴。
Zhè ge pēn hú de yóu zuǐ huài le.
The spray nozzle of this watering can is broken.
油嘴。
Jī qì de yóu zuǐ xū yào qīng xǐ.
The spray nozzle of the machine needs cleaning.

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.

油 means oil and 嘴 means mouth, suggesting an oily mouth or an oil nozzle.

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.

氵由油

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

由

由yóu油yóu

Same sound today

油 is built from 氵, a water part, and 由, which supplies the sound.

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

口觜嘴

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

觜

觜zī嘴

Same sound today

嘴 pairs 口 (mouth) with 觜, which supplies its sound.

Appears in

Personality & Traits Miscellaneous Objects

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