() — target (bound morpheme, used in compound words)

Definition

靶 (bǎ) is a bound morpheme meaning 'target' — it never stands alone, only appearing in compounds like 靶子, 靶场, 靶心.

bound form
target (bound morpheme, used in compound words)

Examples

  • Zhè ge bǎ zi shì xīn de.
    This target is new.
  • Tā men qù bǎ chǎng dǎ bǎ.
    They went to the shooting range to practice.
  • Yí jiàn shè zhòng le bǎ xīn.
    An arrow hit the bullseye.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

靶 is made from 革, which relates to the meaning, and 巴, which gives the sound.

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