电棒 (diàn bàng) — flashlight, torch (colloquial)

Definition

noun

flashlighttorch (colloquial)

Measure word · 个

。
Wǎn shàng chū mén bié wàng le dài diàn bàng.
Don't forget to bring a flashlight when you go out at night.
，电棒。
Tíng diàn le, kuài bǎ diàn bàng zhǎo chū lái.
The power is out, hurry and find the flashlight.
电棒。
Tā yòng diàn bàng zhào le zhào hēi àn de jiǎo luò.
He shone the flashlight into the dark corner.

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.

电diànelectricity

电 means electricity, and 棒 is a stick-like object; together they name a small electric light.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 電; 电 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

雨雨yǔrain

Sound part声符shēngfú

申

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

For the traditional form 電, 雨 (rain) sits with 申, read shēn and meaning lightning.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

木奉棒

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree, wood

Sound part声符shēngfú

奉

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

棒 combines 木 (wood) with 奉, which gives the sound, to write a wooden club.