破旧 (pò jiù) — shabby, worn-out, dilapidated | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Adjective for things that are shabby and worn from long use (clothes, furniture, buildings). Stronger than 破, which focuses on being broken or damaged; 破旧 adds the sense of age and decay.

adjective

shabbyworn-outdilapidated

Examples

破旧。
Zhè jiān fáng jiān de jiā jù dōu hěn pò jiù le.
The furniture in this room is all very shabby.
破旧。
Tā chuān zhuó yí jiàn pò jiù de dà yī.
He is wearing a shabby coat.
破旧。
Zhè běn pò jiù de zì diǎn shì wǒ de.
This worn-out dictionary is mine.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

破pòtattered

The sense of 破, tattered, is joined with 旧, old, to describe something shabby.

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.

石皮破

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

皮

皮pí破pò

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

破 has 石 (stone) as its meaning part and 皮 as its sound part.

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 舊; 旧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

雈雈huánowl

Sound part声符shēngfú

臼

臼jiù舊jiù

Same sound today

The traditional form of 旧 is 舊, which shows 雈, an owl, above 臼, which gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Texture & Quality

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