雏形 (chú xíng) — embryonic form, rudimentary form (of a plan, idea, system, etc.); embryo (biological, less common)

Definition

Usually means the early, rough version of a plan, idea, or system. The biological sense 'embryo' is rare; for a developing baby or organism, 胚胎 is the standard word.

noun
embryonic formrudimentary form (of a plan, idea, system, etc.)embryo (biological, less common)

Examples

  • 雏形。
    Zhè ge jì huà de chú xíng zài qù nián jiù yǐ jīng yǒu le.
    The embryonic form of this plan already existed last year.
  • 雏形。
    Kē xué jiā zài xiǎn wēi jìng xià guān chá niǎo lèi de chú xíng.
    Scientists observe the embryos of birds under a microscope.
  • 雏形。
    Zhè zuò chéng shì de chú xíng kě yǐ zhuī sù dào táng dài.
    The rudimentary form of this city can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty.

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.

雏chúyoung
形xíngform

The 雏 young quality describes the 形 form, naming an early rudimentary form.

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 雛; 雏 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
隹隹zhuībird
Sound part声符shēngfú
芻
芻chú雛chú(r)
Same sound today

The traditional form 雛 pairs 隹, a bird, with 芻 for the sound.

Open 雏 →

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 →

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