褥 (rù) — mattress (bound form, used in compounds like 褥子)

Definition

褥 is a bound form meaning 'mattress' — it never stands alone and only appears in compounds, almost always 褥子. Think of it as the root of the everyday word 褥子, not a word you use by itself.

bound form
mattress (bound form, used in compounds like 褥子)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè tiáo rù zi hěn ruǎn.
    This mattress is very soft.
  • 。
    Dōng tiān yào pù hòu rù zi.
    In winter you need to put down a thick mattress.
  • 。
    Wǒ mǎi le yì zhāng xīn rù zi.
    I bought a new mattress.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
衣衣yī
Sound part声符shēngfú
辱
辱rǔ褥rù
Same sound today

褥 is built from 衣 and 辱: 衣 is the meaning part, and 辱 is the sound part.

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