进口货 (jìn kǒu huò) — imported goods

Definition

An informal everyday term for 'imported goods' (foreign products brought into the country). Pairs naturally with 国产货, its domestic counterpart used for contrast.

noun
imported goods
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 进口货。
    Zhè jiā shāng diàn mài de dōu shì jìn kǒu huò.
    This store sells only imported goods.
  • 进口货。
    jìn kǒu huò De zhì liàng bǐ guó chǎn huò hǎo.
    The quality of imported goods is better than domestic goods.
  • 进口货。
    Zuì jìn jìn kǒu huò de jià gé zhǎng le hěn duō.
    The price of imported goods has risen a lot recently.

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.

进口import
进jìnenter口kǒuport
动宾Verb + object
货huògoods

进口货 combines 进口, entering through a port, with 货, goods, to mean goods brought in.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 進; 进 is its simplified writing.

  • 辵辵chuòwalk
  • 隹隹zhuīshort-tail bird

The traditional form 進 pairs 辵 (walk) with 隹 (short-tail bird): the picture showed moving forward because a bird can only walk forward, not backward. The simplified 进 is a later shorthand.

Open 进 →

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

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

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 貨; 货 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèishell, money
Sound part声符shēngfú
化
化huà貨huò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 貨 pairs 化 (sound) with 貝 (shell, money) to write valuable goods; the simplified 货 is a shorthand.

Open 货 →

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