行李架 (xíng li jià) — luggage rack, baggage shelf

Definition

noun

luggage rackbaggage shelf

Measure word · 个

行李架。
Qǐng bǎ xiāng zi fàng zài xíng li jià shàng.
Please put the suitcase on the luggage rack.
行李架。
Huǒ chē shàng de xíng li jià fàng mǎn le xíng li.
The luggage rack on the train is full of luggage.
行李架。
Zhè ge xíng li jià kě yǐ fàng liǎng gè dà xiāng zi.
This luggage rack can hold two large suitcases.

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.

行李baggage

行李 baggage and 架 rack name a rack for luggage.

Characters in this word

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

彳亍行

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

來

來lái李lǐ

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

The earliest form of 李 paired 來 (wheat) with 子; the 來 part later changed into 木, giving today's shape.

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

加木架

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree, wood

Sound part声符shēngfú

加

Same sound today

架 shows 木, meaning wood, with 加 giving the sound; it refers to a wooden prop.