(háo) — oyster

Definition

noun
oyster
Measure word ·

Examples

  • Zhè jiā diàn de háo hěn xīn xiān.
    The oysters at this restaurant are very fresh.
  • Wǒ diǎn le yí fèn suàn róng zhēng háo.
    I ordered a serving of steamed oysters with garlic.
  • háo De yíng yǎng jià zhí hěn gāo.
    Oysters have high nutritional value.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 蠔; 蚝 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
háoháo
Same sound today

The traditional form 蠔 pairs 虫, a sign for creatures, with 豪, which gives the sound. The simplified 蚝 is a later shorthand, so its parts do not carry that older analysis.

Appears in

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