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防水 (fáng shuǐ) — (attributive) waterproof, water-resistant; (v.o.) to be waterproof, to prevent water entry

Definition

A verb-object word (离合词) meaning 'to be waterproof' or 'to keep water out', also used as an attributive adjective ('waterproof'). Verbs can split: 防得了水, 防不住水.

(attributive) waterproofwater-resistant(v.o.) to be waterproofto prevent water entry

Examples

  • 防水。
    Wǒ mǎi le yí kuài fáng shuǐ shǒu biǎo.
    I bought a waterproof watch.
  • 防水。
    Zhè ge shǒu jī hěn fáng shuǐ.
    This phone is very waterproof.
  • 。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào fáng dé le shuǐ.
    This type of material can prevent water entry.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

防fángprevent
水shuǐwater

防 means to keep out, and 水 is water; together they describe preventing water from entering.

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
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng防fáng
Same sound today

防 pairs 阝 (written fully as 阜) with 方, which gives the sound.

Open 防 →

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

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Open 水 →
Appears in
Materials & Substances

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