骨牌 (gǔ pái) — domino (tile); dominoes (game) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Refers both to the individual domino tile and to the game played with them. The measure word is 块, and the common expression 骨牌效应 means 'domino effect' — a chain reaction where one event triggers the next.

noun

domino (tile)dominoes (game)

Measure word · 块

Examples

骨牌。
Zhōu mò wǒ men yì jiā rén yì qǐ dǎ gǔ pái.
Our whole family plays dominoes together on weekends.
骨牌，。
Zhè jiàn shì jiù xiàng fā shēng le gǔ pái xiào yìng, yì lián chuàn dōu chū wèn tí le.
This matter was like a domino effect — a whole chain of problems occurred.
骨牌，。
Bù xiǎo xīn pèng dǎo le yí kuài gǔ pái, jié guǒ quán bù dǎo le.
I accidentally knocked over one domino, and then all of them fell.

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.

骨 means bone and 牌 means a flat tile or card; together they name a domino tile, historically made from bone.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

冎

冎guǎ骨gǔ

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

The older form 冎 drew a bone; 肉, flesh, was added to make 骨.

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

片卑牌

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

卑

卑bēi牌pái

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

牌 puts 片, a flat piece, beside 卑, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Games & Puzzles

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