豪猪 (háo zhū) — porcupine | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

porcupine

Measure word · 只

豪猪。
Dòng wù yuán lǐ de háo zhū zhèng suō chéng yì tuán.
The porcupine in the zoo is curling into a ball.
豪猪。
háo zhū Shēn shàng de cì shì tā men de fáng yù wǔ qì.
The quills on a porcupine are its defensive weapons.
豪猪。
Nǐ néng zài rè dài yǔ lín lǐ zhǎo dào háo zhū.
You can find porcupines in tropical rainforests.

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.

豪háolong bristles

豪 refers to long bristles and 猪 to a pig-like animal, so 豪猪 names the porcupine.

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

豕豕shǐpig, boar

Sound part声符shēngfú

高

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

豪 shows 豕, a pig or boar, together with 高, which gives its sound.

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

犭者猪

Meaning part形符xíngfú

犭Written in full as犬quǎndog

Sound part声符shēngfú

者

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

猪 combines 犭, a dog sign, with 者 as a sound part.