TongTong
Sign in

螺钉 (luó dīng) — screw

Definition

noun
screw
Measure word · 颗

Examples

  • 螺钉。
    Qǐng bǎ luó dīng níng jǐn.
    Please tighten the screw.
  • 螺钉，。
    Zhè ge luó dīng tài xiǎo le, huàn yí gè dà de.
    This screw is too small; change to a bigger one.
  • 螺钉。
    Tā yòng qǐ zi bǎ luó dīng chāi le xià lái.
    He used a screwdriver to take the screw out.

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.

螺luóspiral
钉dīngnail

螺 suggests a spiral shape and 钉 is a nail-like fastener, so it is a screw.

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
虫虫chóng
Sound part声符shēngfú
累
累lèi螺luó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

螺 combines 虫, a part associated with creatures, with 累, which gives the sound.

Open 螺 →

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 釘; 钉 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng釘dīng
Same sound today

The traditional 釘 pairs 金 (metal) with 丁 for sound; some theorize 丁 originally meant “nail,” so 釘 was created to write that word with metal added. The simplified 钉 is a shorthand.

Open 钉 →
Appears in
Miscellaneous Objects

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.