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砧板 (zhēn bǎn) — chopping block, cutting board

Definition

noun
chopping blockcutting board
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 砧板。
    Mā ma zài zhēn bǎn shàng qiē cài.
    Mom is cutting vegetables on the chopping board.
  • 砧板。
    Zhè bǎ xīn zhēn bǎn hěn jiē shi.
    This new cutting board is very sturdy.
  • 砧板。
    Yòng wán zhēn bǎn jì de xǐ gān jìng.
    Remember to wash the cutting board after using it.

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.

砧zhēnchopping block
板bǎnboard

砧 (chopping block) + 板 (board): a board used for chopping.

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
石石shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn砧
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

砧 pairs 石, a stone, with 占, which gives its sound.

Open 砧 →

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
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
反
反fǎn板bǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

板 pairs 木 (tree) with 反 as a sound part.

Open 板 →
Appears in
Kitchenware & Tableware

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