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玩具 (wán jù) — toy

Definition

A specific toy or plaything — a concrete object meant for children to play with, more specific than the casual, vague 玩意儿 (which can mean any little thing or gadget, often for adults).

noun
toy
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 玩具。
    Wǒ gěi hái zi mǎi le yí gè xīn wán jù.
    I bought a new toy for the child.
  • 玩具。
    Zhè ge wán jù hěn yǒu yì si.
    This toy is very interesting.
  • 玩具。
    wán jù Shì hái zi men zuì xǐ huan de lǐ wù.
    Toys are children's favorite gifts.

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.

玩wánplay
具jùimplement

玩 means play and 具 means implement, so together they name an implement for playing.

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
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
元
元yuán玩wán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

玩 pairs 玉 (jade) with 元 (yuán) for sound. The jade part points to toys made of jade.

Open 玩 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

具 pairs 廾 (two hands) with 鼎 (a cauldron), showing hands working with a cauldron to prepare food.

Open 具 →
Appears in
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