炭坑 (tàn kēng) — coal pit

Definition

noun
coal pit
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 炭坑。
    Zhè ge tàn kēng hěn shēn.
    This coal pit is very deep.
  • 炭坑。
    Gōng rén men zài tàn kēng lǐ gōng zuò.
    Workers work in the coal pit.
  • 炭坑。
    Nà ge tàn kēng yǐ jīng fèi qì le.
    That coal pit has been abandoned.

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.

炭tàncoal
坑kēngpit

“炭” coal and “坑” pit make a pit for coal.

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
岸
岸àn炭tàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

炭 combines 火 (fire) with 岸, which provides the sound. The 火 part connects the character to fire or burning material.

Open 炭 →

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
土土tǔsoil
Sound part声符shēngfú
亢
亢kàng坑kēng(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The current form 坑 uses 土 (soil) for the meaning and 亢 for the sound.

Open 坑 →

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