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笔记本 (bǐ jì běn) — notebook (paper notebook for writing); laptop computer

Definition

笔记本 is the bound paper notebook (counted with 本) or laptop computer. 本子 is a more casual synonym for the paper kind, while 笔记 refers to the written content/notes themselves, not the book.

noun
notebook (paper notebook for writing)laptop computer
Measure word · 本

Examples

  • 笔记本。
    Wǒ bǎ bǐ jì běn fàng zài shū bāo lǐ.
    I put the notebook in the schoolbag.
  • 笔记本，。
    Zhè ge bǐ jì běn hěn qīng, fāng biàn dài qǐ lái fāng biàn.
    This laptop is light and convenient to carry.
  • 笔记本。
    Tā mǎi le yì tái xīn bǐ jì běn.
    He bought a new laptop.

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.

笔记notes
笔bǐpen or writing记jìrecord
偏正Modifier + head
本běnbook

笔记 means notes, 本 means book; together they mean a book for notes, also a laptop.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 筆; 笔 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
聿
聿yù筆bǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The simplified 笔 is based on the traditional form 筆, which puts 竹 (bamboo) beside 聿 (writing brush). 聿 already meant the brush and supplied the sound; 竹 was added later to show it was made of bamboo.

Open 笔 →

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 記; 记 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech; words
Sound part声符shēngfú
己
己jǐ記jì
Same sound today

The traditional form 記 pairs 言 (speech; words) with 己 as a sound part; the simplified 记 is a later shorthand, so its right side is not the historical component.

Open 记 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

本 adds a stroke at the bottom of a tree shape to mark the roots, giving the sense of foundation or original.

Open 本 →
Appears in
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