滚雪球 (gǔn xuě qiú) — to snowball (figuratively, of a problem, debt, or trend growing rapidly); to roll a snowball (literal)

Definition

Literally 'to roll a snowball', also used figuratively for a problem, debt, or trend that grows bigger and bigger as it rolls.

verb
to snowball (figuratively, of a problem, debt, or trend growing rapidly)to roll a snowball (literal)

Examples

  • 滚雪球。
    Zhài wù xiàng gǔn xuě qiú yí yàng yuè gǔn yuè dà.
    The debt snowballed bigger and bigger.
  • 滚雪球，。
    Zhè ge yáo yán kāi shǐ gǔn xuě qiú, hěn kuài jiù chuán biàn le quán chéng.
    This rumor began to snowball and quickly spread throughout the city.
  • 。
    Hái zi men zài xuě dì lǐ gǔn le yí gè dà xuě qiú.
    The children rolled a big snowball in the snow.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

滚gǔnroll
雪球snowball
雪xuěsnow球qiúball
偏正Modifier + head

"滚" means to roll and "雪球" is a ball of snow, giving the image of rolling a snowball that grows as it rolls.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 滾; 滚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
袞
袞gǔn滾gǔn
Same sound today

The traditional form 滾 pairs 水 (water) with 袞, which supplies the pronunciation. The simplified 滚 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical 袞.

Open 滚 →

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
雨雨yǔrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
彗
彗huì雪xuě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

雪 pairs 雨, showing rain, with 彗, giving the sound.

Open 雪 →

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
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
求
求qiú球qiú
Same sound today

球 is built from 玉, meaning jade, and 求, which gives the sound.

Open 球 →

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