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空格 (kōng gé) — blank space, empty space (on a form, document, etc.)

Definition

noun
blank spaceempty space (on a form, document, etc.)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 空格。
    Qǐng tián xiě zhè ge kōng gé.
    Please fill in this blank space.
  • 空格。
    Zhè lǐ yào liú yí gè kōng gé.
    You need to leave a blank space here.
  • 空格。
    Biǎo gé shàng yǒu yí gè kōng gé.
    There is a blank space on the form.

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.

空kōngempty
格gécell

空 (empty) + 格 (cell) makes a blank cell or space.

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
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

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mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè格gé
Same sound today

格 is built from 木 (wood) on the left and 各 on the right, which gives the sound.

Open 格 →
Appears in
Reading & Writing

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