瑞香 (ruì xiāng) — winter daphne (Daphne odora), a fragrant flowering shrub

Definition

noun
winter daphne (Daphne odora)a fragrant flowering shrub
Measure word · 棵

Examples

  • 瑞香。
    Wǒ jiā yuàn zi lǐ zhǒng le yì kē ruì xiāng.
    I planted a winter daphne in my yard.
  • 瑞香。
    ruì xiāng Kāi huā de shí hou tè bié xiāng.
    When winter daphne blooms, it's especially fragrant.
  • 瑞香。
    Zhè zhǒng ruì xiāng yuán chǎn yú zhōng guó nán bù.
    This type of winter daphne is native to southern China.

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.

瑞ruìauspicious
香xiāngfragrance

瑞香 pairs 瑞, meaning auspicious, with 香, meaning fragrance, naming a fragrant shrub.

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
耑
耑zhuān瑞ruì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

瑞 pairs 玉, meaning jade, with 耑, which gives its sound.

Open 瑞 →

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

香's early form paired 黍 (glutinous millet) with 口 (mouth), perhaps showing millet drink being taken in or offered.

Open 香 →

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