蝴蝶结 (hú dié jiē) — bow (ribbon); bowknot | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A compound noun literally meaning 'butterfly knot' but in modern usage it means a bow or bowknot made of ribbon, as on a gift, in hair, or on clothing.

noun

bow (ribbon)bowknot

Measure word · 个

Examples

蝴蝶结。
Tā zài tóu fa shàng xì le yí gè piào liang de hú dié jiē.
She tied a beautiful bow in her hair.
蝴蝶结。
Zhè ge lǐ wù hé shàng yǒu yí gè hóng sè de hú dié jiē.
This gift box has a red bow on it.
蝴蝶结。
Tā xǐ huan shōu jí gè zhǒng yán sè de hú dié jiē.
She likes collecting bows of all colors.

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.

蝴蝶

联绵Bound pair

蝴蝶 names the butterfly shape, and 结 gives the knot sense.

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.

虫胡蝴

Meaning part形符xíngfú

虫虫chónginsect

Sound part声符shēngfú

胡

Same sound today

蝴 uses 虫 to show it is an insect and 胡 to give its sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

虫枼蝶

Meaning part形符xíngfú

虫虫chónginsect

Sound part声符shēngfú

枼

枼yè蝶dié

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

蝶 combines 虫, showing an insect-like creature, with 枼, which gives its sound.

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 結; 结 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

吉

吉jí結jié

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

The traditional form 結 pairs 糸 with 吉; 吉 gives the sound, and 糸 relates to the meaning. The simplified 结 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

Footwear & Accessories

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