路标 (lù biāo) — road sign (traffic sign); (military) route marker or sign

Definition

noun
road sign (traffic sign)(military) route marker or sign
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 路标
    Yán zhe zhè tiáo gōng lù, měi gè chà lù kǒu dōu yǒu qīng xī de lù biāo.
    Along this highway, every intersection has clear road signs.
  • 路标
    Bù duì zài yè jiān xíng jìn shí, bì xū yī kào lù biāo lái què dìng fāng xiàng.
    When marching at night, the troops must rely on route markers to determine direction.
  • 路标
    Xīn shǒu sī jī yīng gāi tè bié zhù yì lù biān de lù biāo.
    Novice drivers should pay special attention to roadside traffic signs.

Origin

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.

路 is road and 标 is mark or sign, so together they mean a road sign.

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

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Open 路 →

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 標; 标 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
piàobiāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 標 pairs 木 with 票, and 票 gives the sound; the simplified 标 is the modern form of that traditional character.

Open 标 →
Appears in

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