活脱脱 (huó tuō tuō) — remarkably alike, exactly like, a perfect copy of

Definition

Adverbial adjective meaning 'a perfect likeness' — used to stress that someone or something looks strikingly, almost identically like another. Common with 是… / 像… to highlight resemblance.

adjective
remarkably alikeexactly likea perfect copy of

Examples

  • 活脱脱。
    Tā cháng dé huó tuō tuō shì yí gè xiǎo míng xīng.
    She looks exactly like a little star.
  • 活脱脱。
    Zhè hái zi huó tuō tuō shì tā fù qīn de fān bǎn.
    This child is a perfect replica of his father.
  • 活脱脱。
    Tā de biǎo yǎn huó tuō tuō jiù shì diàn yǐng lǐ de nà ge rén.
    His performance was exactly like that person in the movie.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

活huóalive
脱脱vivid state
脱tuōvivid state脱tuōvivid state
联合Side by side

活 gives the sense of life, while 脱脱 makes the likeness vivid and exact.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑活huó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

活 is built from 氵 (water) and 𠯑, which shows the sound; 𠯑 later changed into 舌.

Open 活 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 脫; 脱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì脫tuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 脫 puts ⺼ (meat) beside 兌, which gives the sound; the simplified 脱 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 脱 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 脫; 脱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròu
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì脫tuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 脫 puts ⺼ (meat) beside 兌, which gives the sound; the simplified 脱 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 脱 →

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