衬垫 (chèn diàn) — (type of) pad (for shaping, protection, or comfort); (type of) liner (for clothing, packaging, or containers)

Definition

A layer of material placed inside or under something to cushion, protect, or shape it — like suit shoulders, box packaging, or a laptop sleeve. The verb form 衬垫 is rare; the noun sense is what learners need.

noun
(type of) pad (for shaping, protection, or comfort)(type of) liner (for clothing, packaging, or containers)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 衬垫。
    Zhè jiàn xī zhuāng de chèn diàn ràng jiān bǎng kàn qǐ lái hěn tǐng.
    The pad in this suit makes the shoulders look very straight.
  • 衬垫,。
    Kuài dì xiāng zi lǐ miàn jiā le yī céng chèn diàn, fáng zhǐ dōng xī shuāi huài.
    A layer of liner was added inside the express box to prevent items from breaking.
  • 衬垫。
    Tā zài bēi bāo dǐ bù fàng le yí gè chèn diàn lái bǎo hù bǐ jì běn diàn nǎo.
    She put a pad at the bottom of the backpack to protect the laptop.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

衬 and 垫 refer to lining and padding, together meaning a pad or liner.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 衬 →

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 墊; 垫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
執
執zhí墊diàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 墊 pairs 土, showing earth, with 執, providing the sound; this is about 墊, not the simplified 垫.

Open 垫 →

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