臀围 (tún wéi) — hip measurement; hip circumference

Definition

noun

hip measurementhip circumference

臀围。
Wǒ de tún wéi shì jiǔ shí èr lí mǐ.
My hip measurement is 92 centimeters.
臀围。
Mǎi kù zi de shí hou zuì hǎo liáng yí xià tún wéi.
When buying pants, it's best to measure your hip circumference.
臀围，。
Zhè jiàn qún zi tún wéi tài jǐn le, bù shū fu.
This skirt is too tight around the hips — it's uncomfortable.

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.

围wéicircumference

臀 names the body part, 围 names the circumference around it.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

肉肉ròuflesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

殿

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

臀 pairs 肉, meaning flesh, with 殿, which gives a sound cue.

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 圍; 围 is its simplified writing.

囗韋圍

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéienclosure

Sound part声符shēngfú

韋

韋wéi圍wéi

Same sound today

The traditional form 圍 pairs 囗 (enclosure) with 韋, which gives the sound; 围 is the simplified form of 圍.