盖子 (gài zi) — lid, cover, cap, top; shell (of a turtle, etc.)

Definition

noun

lidcovercaptopshell (of a turtle, etc.)

Measure word · 个

。
Qǐng bǎ guō gài zi gài shàng.
Please put the lid on the pot.
盖子。
Zhè ge píng zi de gài zi dǎ bù kāi le.
The cap on this bottle won't come off.
盖子。
Wū guī de gài zi hěn yìng.
A turtle's shell is very hard.

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.

盖gàicover/lid

The word names a cover or lid; 盖 means to cover, and 子 makes it the thing that covers.

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 蓋; 盖 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艸艸cǎograss

Sound part声符shēngfú

盍

盍hé蓋gài

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

The traditional form 蓋 pairs 艸, grass, with 盍 for sound. It was a thatch, and it took on cover meanings after 盍 was borrowed for “why not”.

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.

Appears in