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顺子 (shùn zǐ) — (in card games or mahjong) a straight; a sequence of consecutive tiles or cards

Definition

Mahjong/card-game term for a run of consecutive tiles or cards. It names the pattern itself, not the act of forming one.

noun
(in card games or mahjong) a straighta sequence of consecutive tiles or cards

Examples

  • 顺子。
    Tā shǒu shàng yǒu zhāng pái kě yǐ zǔ chéng shùn zǐ.
    He has a card in his hand that can form a straight.
  • ，顺子。
    Dǎ má jiàng de shí hou, shùn zǐ shì hěn hǎo de pái xíng.
    When playing mahjong, a straight is a good hand pattern.
  • 顺子。
    Zhè bǎ pái wǒ zhōng yú còu qí le yí gè shùn zǐ.
    In this hand I finally formed a straight.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

顺shùnstraight
子zǐword ending

顺 gives the sense of a straight sequence, and 子 completes the term for a hand in games.

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 順; 顺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yè
Sound part声符shēngfú
川
川chuān順shùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 順 pairs 川 (river), which gives the sound, with 頁 (head); the picture is a head in a river, following the current. The simplified 顺 is a shorthand.

Open 顺 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Games & Puzzles

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