自动步枪 (zì dòng bù qiāng) — automatic rifle

Definition

noun
automatic rifle
Measure word · 支

Examples

  • 自动步枪。
    Zhè bǎ zì dòng bù qiāng shì zhàn chǎng shàng zuì cháng jiàn de wǔ qì zhī yī.
    This automatic rifle is one of the most common weapons on the battlefield.
  • 自动步枪。
    Tā duān qǐ zì dòng bù qiāng xiàng dí rén shè jī.
    He raised the automatic rifle and fired at the enemy.
  • 自动步枪，。
    Zhè zhǒng zì dòng bù qiāng de zhòng liàng jiào qīng, shì hé cháng shí jiān xié dài.
    This type of automatic rifle is relatively light, suitable for long-term carrying.

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.

自动automatic
自zìself动dòngmove
偏正Modifier + head
步枪rifle
步bùfoot枪qiānggun
偏正Modifier + head

自动 “automatic” + 步枪 “rifle” names a rifle that fires automatically.

Characters in this word

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

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

步 uses two 止 (foot) forms, one reversed, to show one foot stepping in front of the other.

Open 步 →

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 槍; 枪 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
倉
倉cāng槍qiāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 槍 pairs 木 (wood) with 倉 as a sound part; the simplified 枪 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical component.

Open 枪 →

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