Definition
洋 is a bound morpheme used in compounds, with three main sense clusters: 'ocean' (大洋, 海洋), 'foreign/western' (洋人, 洋货), and a historical sense meaning 'silver dollar' (大洋, 银洋). You'll rarely see it alone; it almost always combines with another character to form a multi-syllable word.
char.
oceanvast body of waterforeignWestern (in relation to China)(historical) silver dollar or coin
Examples
- 。Zhè sōu chuán yào chuān guò Tàipíng yáng cáinéng dàodá Měizhōu.This ship has to cross the Pacific Ocean to reach America.
- 洋。Yǐqián de lǎobǎixìng bǎ yáng huò dàng zuò xīhan wù.In the past, common people treated foreign goods as rarities.
- 洋。Tā zài jiùhuò shìchǎng zhǎo dào le yí kuài Qīngmò de yín yáng.He found a late-Qing silver dollar at the flea market.
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