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矮子 (ǎi zi) — short person (can be derogatory); dwarf (person of unusually short stature)

Definition

矮子 (ǎi zi) is an everyday noun for a short person, often slightly teasing or derogatory when used face-to-face — a neutral descriptive noun, not a neutral adjective. Use 个子矮 (taller-sounding) when you want to be polite.

noun
short person (can be derogatory)dwarf (person of unusually short stature)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 矮子。
    Tā bù xǐ huan bié rén jiào tā ǎi zi.
    He doesn't like others calling him a shorty.
  • 矮子，。
    Nà ge ǎi zi suī rán gè zi bù gāo, dàn lì qi hěn dà.
    Although that short person is not tall, he is very strong.
  • 矮子。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng jiǎng le yí gè ǎi zi de fèn dòu gù shi.
    This movie tells the story of a short person's struggle.

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.

矮ǎishort
子zǐ

矮 gives short, and 子 turns it into a person.

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
矢矢shǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
委
委wěi矮ǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

矮 is made of 矢 and 委: 矢 relates to the meaning, and 委 gives the sound.

Open 矮 →

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
Injury & DisabilityPeople (General)

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