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筷子 (kuài zi) — chopsticks

Definition

The everyday word for chopsticks (eaten with, not the cooking kind). Unlike 叉子 (fork), 筷子 come as a pair — pair them with the measure word 双 or 对, not 把.

noun
chopsticks
Measure word · 对, 根, 把, 双

Examples

  • 筷子。
    Mā ma mǎi le shí shuāng kuài zi.
    Mom bought ten pairs of chopsticks.
  • 筷子。
    Qǐng gěi wǒ yì shuāng kuài zi.
    Please give me a pair of chopsticks.
  • 筷子。
    Wǒ xǐ huan yòng zhú zi de kuài zi.
    I like to use bamboo chopsticks.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

筷kuàichopstick
子zǐending

'筷子' is the everyday word for chopsticks; '筷' gives the tool sense and '子' completes the common form.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3HSK 2.0 Level 3Kitchenware & Tableware

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