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磐石 (Pán shí) — boulder

Definition

Literary term for a 'boulder,' almost always used figuratively to mean rock-solid, unshakeable steadfastness (e.g. 坚如磐石, 磐石般的信念). In everyday speech, just say 巨石.

noun
boulder
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 磐石。
    Zhè kuài Pán shí zhòng dá jǐ dūn.
    This boulder weighs several tons.
  • 磐石。
    Tā men zhī jiān de yǒu yì jiān rú Pán shí.
    The friendship between them is as solid as a rock.
  • 磐石。
    Zhè zuò diāo xiàng jiàn zài yí kuài jù dà de Pán shí shàng.
    This statue was built on a huge boulder.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

磐pánlarge rock
石shístone

磐 (large rock) and 石 (stone) together name a solid boulder.

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shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
般
般bān磐pán
Same sound today

磐 pairs 石, a stone, with 般, which gives its sound.

Open 磐 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 石 shows a stone under a cliff-like overhang, or a cave set into a cliff side.

Open 石 →
Appears in
Geography & Landforms

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