() — (bound form) stem (of fruit, flower, melon); (bound form) butt (of a cigarette)

Definition

Bound morph meaning 'stem' — the small part that connects a fruit or flower to its stalk, or the leftover butt of a cigarette. Always pairs with a preceding noun (e.g. 瓜蒂, 烟蒂).

bound form
stem (of fruit, flower, melon)butt (of a cigarette)

Examples

  • Tā suí shǒu bǎ yān dì rēng zài dì shàng.
    He casually threw the cigarette butt on the ground.
  • Guā dì shì lián jiē guā hé téng de bù fen.
    The melon stem is the part connecting the melon and the vine.
  • Huā dì kū wěi hòu, huā duǒ jiù huì diào luò.
    After the flower stem withers, the flower will fall off.

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
cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

The top 艸 marks a plant, and the lower 帝 gives the sound.

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