祖母绿 (zǔ mǔ lǜ) — emerald (gemstone)

Definition

noun

emerald (gemstone)

Measure word · 颗

祖母绿。
Tā dài le yì tiáo zǔ mǔ lǜ xiàng liàn.
She wore an emerald necklace.
祖母绿。
Zhè méi zǔ mǔ lǜ jiè zhi fēi cháng zhēn guì.
This emerald ring is very precious.
祖母绿。
zǔ mǔ lǜ Shì yì zhǒng lǜ sè de bǎo shí.
Emerald is a type of green gemstone.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

且

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

祖 was made by adding 示 to 且, and 且 gives the sound.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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 綠; 绿 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

彔

彔lù綠lù

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

The traditional form 綠 uses 糸 to show silk and 彔 for sound; the simplified 绿 is a later abbreviation, so its parts are not the original pieces.