洗衣粉 (xǐ yī fěn) — laundry detergent; washing powder | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

laundry detergentwashing powder

Examples

洗衣粉。
Wǒ qù chāo shì mǎi le yí dài xǐ yī fěn.
I went to the supermarket and bought a bag of laundry detergent.
洗衣粉。
Zhè zhǒng xǐ yī fěn xǐ dé hěn gān jìng.
This kind of washing powder cleans very well.
洗衣粉？
Nǐ jiā yòng shén me pái zi de xǐ yī fěn?
What brand of laundry detergent does your family use?

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.

洗衣wash clothes

洗xǐwash衣yīclothes

动宾Verb + object

洗衣, from 洗 'wash' and 衣 'clothes', describes 粉 'powder', giving laundry powder.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

先

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

洗 is built from 水 (water) and 先, which gives the character its sound.

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

The shape of 衣 comes from an outline of the chest and upper clothing.

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

米分粉

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

分

分fēn粉fěn

Same sound today

粉 pairs 米 (rice) with 分 for its sound. The rice part points to face powder made from rice.

Appears in

Cleaning & Chores

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