绣球 (xiù qiú) — ball of silk strips (used in traditional Chinese courtship ritual); big-leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

Definition

Two unrelated senses: a silk ball thrown by a woman to choose her husband in old courtship customs, and the big-leaf hydrangea shrub (also called 八仙花).

noun
ball of silk strips (used in traditional Chinese courtship ritual)big-leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Measure word · 朵

Examples

  • 绣球。
    Tā zài gǔ dài chuán shuō zhōng pāo xiù qiú xuǎn fū xù.
    In ancient legend, she threw the silk ball to choose her husband.
  • 绣球。
    Zhè kē xiù qiú kāi mǎn le lán sè de huā.
    This hydrangea is full of blue flowers.
  • 绣球。
    Tā xǐ huan zài huā yuán lǐ zhǒng xiù qiú.
    She likes to plant hydrangeas in her garden.

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.

绣xiùembroidered
球qiúball

绣 means embroidered and 球 means ball, naming a decorated silk ball.

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 繡; 绣 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
肅
肅sù繡xiù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 绣, the traditional form 繡 pairs 糸, silk, with 肅 to give the sound.

Open 绣 →

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
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
求
求qiú球qiú
Same sound today

球 is built from 玉, meaning jade, and 求, which gives the sound.

Open 球 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.