海岛 (hǎi dǎo) — island (in the sea) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

island (in the sea)

Measure word · 座

海岛。
Zhè ge hǎi dǎo de fēng jǐng fēi cháng měi.
The scenery on this island is very beautiful.
海岛。
Měi nián xià tiān dōu yǒu hěn duō rén qù hǎi dǎo dù jià.
Every summer many people go to the island for vacation.
海岛。
Tā men zài hǎi dǎo shàng jiàn le yí zuò dēng tǎ.
They built a lighthouse on the island.

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.

海 (sea) and 岛 (island) combine to mean an island in the sea.

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.

氵每海

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

每

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

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.

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 島; 岛 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

山山shānmountain

Sound part声符shēngfú

鳥

鳥niǎo島dǎo

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

The traditional form 島 uses 山, meaning mountain, and 鳥 for the sound. The simplified 岛 is a later shorthand.

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