项圈 (xiàng juān) — necklace; neckband (e.g., a choker or ornamenta…

Definition

A band or chain worn around the neck — covers both jewelry (necklace) and non-jewelry collars such as a pet's collar. Measure word is 条.

noun

necklaceneckband (e.g., a choker or ornamental band)

Measure word · 条

项圈，。
Tā dài le yì tiáo yín sè de xiàng juān, fēi cháng piào liang.
She wore a silver necklace; it was very beautiful.
项圈。
Zhè tiáo xiàng juān shì mā ma sòng gěi wǒ de shēng rì lǐ wù.
This necklace is a birthday gift from my mother.
项圈。
Tā zài zhū bǎo diàn tiāo xuǎn le yì tiáo jīng zhì de xiàng juān.
He picked out an exquisite necklace at the jewelry store.

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.

项 'neck' and 圈 'ring' combine to mean a ring worn around the neck.

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 項; 项 is its simplified writing.

工頁項

Meaning part形符xíngfú

頁頁yèhead

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

工gōng項xiàng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 項 combines 工 as a sound part with 頁, meaning head; the simplified 项 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

囗卷圈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéi

Sound part声符shēngfú

卷

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

圈 is made of the outer 囗, an enclosure shape, and the inner 卷, which gives the sound.

Appears in