签子 (qiān zǐ) — a thin pointed stick (bamboo, wood, etc.) used…

Definition

noun

a thin pointed stick (bamboo, wood, etc.) used for divination, picking, or as a toothpick

Measure word · 根

签子。
Tā yòng qiān zǐ zài qiān tǒng lǐ chōu le yì gēn.
He drew one from the bamboo slips in the divination tube.
签子。
Chī shuǐ guǒ de shí hou kě yǐ yòng qiān zǐ chā zhe chī.
When eating fruit, you can use a toothpick to spear and eat it.
签子，。
Zhè xiē qiān zǐ shì yòng zhú zi zuò de, hěn xì.
These skewers are made of bamboo and are very thin.

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.

签qiānslip/stick

子zǐnoun ending

签 names a thin slip or pointed stick; 子 gives it a concrete object sense.

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 籤; 签 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 签 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (签, 签订) it is 簽; in others it is 籤.

竹韱籤

Meaning part形符xíngfú

竹竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

韱

韱xiān籤⁰qiān(r)

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

The traditional form 籤 shows 竹, bamboo, for the material, plus 韱 to give the sound; the simplified 签 is a later shorthand.

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.