裤脚 (kù jiǎ) — bottom hem of a trouser leg; trouser legs (coll…

Definition

noun

bottom hem of a trouser legtrouser legs (collectively)

裤脚，。
Zhè tiáo kù zi de kù jiǎ tài cháng le, xū yào gǎi duǎn.
The bottom hem of these trousers is too long and needs to be shortened.
裤脚，。
Tā juǎn qǐ kù jiǎ, zǒu jìn shuǐ lǐ.
He rolled up his trouser legs and walked into the water.
裤脚。
Zhè zhǒng bù liào zuò kù jiǎ róng yì mó sǔn.
This kind of fabric wears out easily when used for trouser hems.

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.

裤kùtrousers

裤 is trousers and 脚 is the bottom; 裤脚 is the bottom of a trouser leg.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 褲; 裤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

衣衣yīclothing

Sound part声符shēngfú

庫

庫kù褲

Same sound today

The traditional form 褲 pairs 衣 (clothing) with 庫 for its sound. The simplified 裤 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical pieces.

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 腳; 脚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat, body

Sound part声符shēngfú

卻

卻què腳jiǎo

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

The traditional form 腳 uses ⺼ for a body part and 卻 for the sound; the simplified 脚 is a later shorthand.