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起子 (qǐ zi) — (noun) baking powder; (noun) screwdriver; bottle opener; (noun) prospects; future; courage; guts (figurative)

Definition

起子 has three distinct senses that share one word: baking powder (for making dough rise), screwdriver/bottle opener (the tool), and 'guts/courage' (as in 有起子). The tool sense pairs with the measure word 把.

noun
baking powderscrewdriverbottle openerprospectsfuturecourageguts (figurative)
Measure word · 把

Examples

  • 起子，。
    Zuò bāo zi de shí hou yào fàng yì xiē qǐ zi, miàn tuán cái huì fā qǐ lái.
    When making steamed buns, you need to add some baking powder so the dough will rise.
  • 起子，。
    Zhè bǎ qǐ zi de tóu tài xiǎo le, nǐng bú dòng zhè ge luó sī.
    This screwdriver's head is too small to turn this screw.
  • 起子，。
    Tā zhè ge rén méi qǐ zi, zuò shén me shì dōu pà.
    This guy has no guts; he's afraid of everything.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

起qǐstart; rise; lift
子zǐthing or tool ending

起 means to start, rise, or lift, and 子 is an ending for things or tools; the result is a tool or a raising agent.

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
走走zǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì起qǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

起 is made from 走 and 巳: 走 is the part connected with walking or running, and 巳 gives the sound.

Open 起 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Miscellaneous Objects

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