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耳塞 (ěr sāi) — earplug; earwax

Definition

A noun with two distinct senses: 'earplug' (a soft object worn in the ear) and 'earwax' (the waxy substance in the ear). The example sentence tells you which one is meant.

noun
earplugearwax
Measure word · 只

Examples

  • 耳塞。
    Wǒ shuì jiào shí xǐ huan dài ěr sāi.
    I like to wear earplugs when I sleep.
  • 耳塞。
    ěr sāi Tài duō huì yǐng xiǎng tīng lì.
    Too much earwax can affect hearing.
  • 耳塞，。
    Zhè fù ěr sāi hěn ruǎn, dài zhe hěn shū fu.
    These earplugs are very soft and comfortable to wear.

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.

耳ěrear
塞sāiplug

耳 means ear and 塞 means plug, so it names a plug for the ear.

Characters in this word

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

耳 is drawn as a picture of an ear.

Open 耳 →

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

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 工工gōngtwo items
  • 廾廾gǒngtwo hands

塞 combines 宀 (house), 工 (two items), and 廾 (two hands), showing hands stuffing items into a house.

Open 塞 →
Appears in
Everyday Objects

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