缝衣针 (féng yī zhēn) — sewing needle

Definition

noun
sewing needle
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 缝衣针。
    Mā ma yòng féng yī zhēn gěi wǒ bǔ le yī fu.
    Mom used a sewing needle to mend my clothes.
  • 缝衣针，。
    Zhè gēn féng yī zhēn tài xì le, hěn nán chuān xiàn.
    This sewing needle is too thin, it's hard to thread.
  • 缝衣针。
    Tā bù xiǎo xīn bèi féng yī zhēn zhā le yí xià.
    She accidentally pricked herself with the sewing needle.

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.

缝衣sew clothes
缝fèngsew衣yīclothes
动宾Verb + object
针zhēnneedle

A 针 needle used for 缝衣 sewing clothes.

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 縫; 缝 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
逢
逢féng縫fèng(r)
Same sound today

The traditional form 縫 pairs 糸 with 逢; 逢 gives the sound, and 糸 fits the sense. The simplified 缝 is a shorthand.

Open 缝 →

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

The shape of 衣 comes from an outline of the chest and upper clothing.

Open 衣 →

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 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒Written in full as金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
十
十shí針zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 针 →

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