防水布 (fáng shuǐ bù) — waterproof cloth | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

waterproof cloth

Measure word · 块

Examples

防水布。
Zhè zhǒng fáng shuǐ bù hěn nài yòng.
This kind of waterproof cloth is very durable.
防水布。
Tā yòng fáng shuǐ bù zuò le yí gè zhàng peng.
He made a tent using waterproof cloth.
，防水布。
Xià yǔ de shí hou, fáng shuǐ bù kě yǐ bǎo hù wù pǐn bú bèi lín shī.
When it rains, waterproof cloth can protect items from getting wet.

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.

防水prevent water

防fángprevent水shuǐwater

动宾Verb + object

防水 means to keep water out, and 布 is the cloth that does it.

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.

阝方防

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.

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

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

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

巾巾jīnkerchief

Sound part声符shēngfú

父

父fù布bù

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

Appears in

Materials & Substances

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