针线活 (zhēn xiàn huó) — needlework, sewing

Definition

noun
needleworksewing
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 针线活。
    Nǎi nai de zhēn xiàn huó zuò dé tè bié hǎo.
    Grandma does needlework very well.
  • 针线活。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù gēn mā ma xué zhēn xiàn huó.
    She learned sewing from her mother since she was young.
  • 针线活。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu shàng de huā wén dōu shì shǒu gōng zhēn xiàn huó.
    The patterns on this garment are all handmade needlework.

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.

针线needle and thread
针zhēnneedle线xiànthread
联合Side by side
活huówork

"针线" needle and thread plus "活" work mean sewing or needlework.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒Written in full as金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
十
十shí針zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 针 →

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠯑
𠯑𠯑活huó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

活 is built from 氵 (water) and 𠯑, which shows the sound; 𠯑 later changed into 舌.

Open 活 →
Appears in
Crafts & Handiwork

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