部 (bù) — (classifier) for films, books, machines, etc.; (noun) department, ministry, section
Definition
部 has two distinct roles: as a noun it means a department or ministry (similar to 部门 but 部门 emphasizes an administrative division), and as a classifier it counts films, books, and machines — wider than 支 (long thin objects) or 盘 (games/food).
classifier
for filmsbooksmachinesetc.
noun
departmentministrysection
Measure word · 部
Examples
- 部。Wǒ kàn le yí bù hěn hǎo de diàn yǐng.I watched a very good movie.
- 部。Tā mǎi le yí bù xīn shǒu jī.He bought a new cell phone.
- 部。Tā zài jiào yù bù gōng zuò.She works in the education department.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
咅
咅pǒu部bù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
部 pairs 咅, which gives the sound, with 邑. It originally named a place in today's Gansu.
Appears in
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