特拉华州 (Tè lā huá zhōu) — Delaware (US state)

Definition

noun
Delaware (US state)

Examples

  • 特拉华州。
    Wǒ zhù zài Tè lā huá zhōu.
    I live in Delaware.
  • 特拉华州。
    Tè lā huá zhōu Zài měi guó dōng bù.
    Delaware is in the eastern United States.
  • 特拉华州？
    Nǐ xiǎng qù Tè lā huá zhōu lǚ yóu ma?
    Do you want to travel to Delaware?

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.

特拉华Delaware
特tè拉lā华huá
州zhōustate

特拉华 spells Delaware and 州 means state, together naming the US state.

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
牛牛niúox
Sound part声符shēngfú
寺
寺sì特tè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape combines 牛 (ox) with 寺, which gives the pronunciation; it originally meant a large bull.

Open 特 →

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
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
立
立lì拉lā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拉 pairs 手 (hand) with 立, a component that supplies the sound.

Open 拉 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 華; 华 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 華 showed flowers on a plant, with stalk and leaves below. The simplified 华 is a later shorthand and not the original picture.

Open 华 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

州 originally drew an islet in a river.

Open 州 →

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