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隐形眼镜 (yǐn xíng yǎn jìng) — contact lenses

Definition

Contact lenses — literally 'invisible glasses'. 眼镜 means (eyeglasses); 隐形 distinguishes contacts from regular glasses.

noun
contact lenses
Measure word · 只

Examples

  • 隐形眼镜。
    Wǒ qù pèi le yí fù xīn de yǐn xíng yǎn jìng.
    I got a new pair of contact lenses.
  • 隐形眼镜。
    Dài yǐn xíng yǎn jìng bù néng chāo guò bā gè xiǎo shí.
    You shouldn't wear contact lenses for more than eight hours.
  • 隐形眼镜。
    Tā zuì jìn kāi shǐ dài yǐn xíng yǎn jìng le.
    He recently started wearing contact lenses.

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.

隐形invisible
隐yǐnhidden形xíngappearance
偏正Modifier + head
眼镜glasses
眼yǎneye镜jìngglass
偏正Modifier + head

隐形 means invisible and 眼镜 means glasses; the literal sense is invisible glasses, i.e. contact lenses.

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 隱; 隐 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
㥯
㥯㥯隱yǐn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 隱 pairs 阝 (阜) with 㥯 to give the sound; the simplified 隐 is a shorthand, so its right side is not 㥯.

Open 隐 →

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
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
井
井jǐng形xíng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

形 is made from 彡 and 井, with 井 providing the sound.

Open 形 →

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
目目mùeye
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn眼yǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

眼 combines 目, which is an eye, with 艮, which gives the character's sound.

Open 眼 →

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 鏡; 镜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
竟
竟jìng鏡jìng
Same sound today

The traditional form 鏡 puts 金, metal, next to 竟 to give the sound. The simplified 镜 is a later shorthand.

Open 镜 →
Appears in
Footwear & Accessories

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