紫水晶 (zǐ shuǐ jīng) — amethyst | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

amethyst

Measure word · 颗

紫水晶。
Tā dài le yì tiáo zǐ shuǐ jīng xiàng liàn.
She wore an amethyst necklace.
紫水晶。
zǐ shuǐ jīng De zǐ sè fēi cháng mí rén.
The purple color of amethyst is very enchanting.
紫水晶。
Zhè méi zǐ shuǐ jīng chǎn zì bā xī.
This amethyst is produced in Brazil.

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.

水晶rock crystal

偏正Modifier + head

紫 means purple, 水 means water, and 晶 means crystal, combining into a purple water-like crystal.

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.

此糸紫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

此

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

紫 is made of 糸, a silk-related part, and 此, which gives the sound cǐ.

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

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

晶 is drawn as three suns placed together, giving a picture of bright light.