盘腿 (pán tuǐ) — to sit cross-legged (in meditation or casually) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Verb-object phrase meaning 'to cross one's legs' while sitting. The verb 盘 can split from 腿: 盘起腿来 (perfective, see example 2).

verb

to sit cross-legged (in meditation or casually)

Examples

盘腿。
Tā xǐ huan pán tuǐ zuò zài dì shàng kàn shū.
He likes to sit cross-legged on the floor reading.
。
Yú jiā lǎo shī jiào wǒ men pán qǐ tuǐ lái.
The yoga teacher taught us to cross our legs.
盘腿。
pán tuǐ Zuò tài jiǔ tuǐ huì má.
Sitting cross-legged too long makes your legs numb.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

盘 gives the idea of folding or coiling, and 腿 is the legs, giving the image of sitting cross-legged.

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 盤; 盘 is its simplified writing.

般皿盤

Meaning part形符xíngfú

皿皿mǐn

Sound part声符shēngfú

般

般bān盤pán

Same sound today

The traditional form 盤 pairs 般, which gives the sound, with 皿, a vessel. This note is about 盤, not the simplified 盘.

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

肉肉ròuflesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

退

退tuì腿tuǐ

Same sound today

The 肉 part is flesh, showing a body part; the 退 part gives the sound.

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