湾 (wān) — (bound form) bay, gulf, harbor
Definition
湾 (wān) is a bound form meaning a curved inlet of water — a bay or harbor. It only attaches to another word (e.g. 海湾 bay, 港湾 harbor) and never stands alone.
bound form
baygulfharbor
Examples
- 。Zhè ge hǎi wān hěn měi.This bay is very beautiful.
- 。Zhè ge hǎi wān fēng jǐng yōu měi.This bay has beautiful scenery.
- 。Chuán zhī tíng bó zài gǎng wān lǐ.The ships are moored in the harbor.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 灣; 湾 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
彎
彎wān灣wān
Same sound today
The traditional form 灣 pairs 氵 (water) with 彎, which gives the sound; the simplified 湾 is a shorthand.
Appears in
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