(fèi) — lung

Definition

Examples

  • Yī shēng jiàn yì měi nián jiǎn chá yí cì fèi.
    The doctor recommends checking the lungs once a year.
  • Jīng cháng duàn liàn néng ràng fèi gèng qiáng jiàn.
    Regular exercise can make the lungs stronger.
  • Tā de fèi chū xiàn le wèn tí, xū yào zhì liáo.
    There's a problem with his lungs and he needs treatment.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
Written in full asròumeat; flesh
Sound part声符shēngfú
巿
巿fèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

肺 combines ⺼, a form of 肉 meaning flesh, with 巿 for the sound.

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