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珠子 (zhū zi) — bead; pearl

Definition

珠子 is the everyday noun for a single small round object — a bead (plastic, glass, wooden) or a pearl. It pairs with 粒, while pearls in jewelry are often called 珍珠.

noun
beadpearl
Measure word · 粒

Examples

  • 。
    Tā dài le yí chuàn zhū zi zuò de xiàng liàn.
    She wore a necklace made of beads.
  • 珠子。
    Zhè kē zhū zi shì zhēn zhèng de zhēn zhū.
    This bead is a real pearl.
  • 珠子。
    Tā yòng cǎi sè zhū zi biān le yí gè shǒu liàn.
    She used colorful beads to weave a bracelet.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

珠zhūbead
子zǐsuffix

珠 bead plus 子 forms the everyday word for a bead or pearl.

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
𤣩Written in full as玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
朱
朱zhū珠zhū
Same sound today

The left side 𤣩, a form of 玉, connects the character to jade, while the right side 朱 gives the sound.

Open 珠 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Footwear & Accessories

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