黑豆 (hēi dòu) — black soybean

Definition

noun
black soybean
Measure word · 颗

Examples

  • 黑豆。
    hēi dòu Kě yǐ zuò dòu jiāng.
    Black soybeans can be used to make soy milk.
  • 黑豆。
    Wǒ xǐ huan chī zhǔ de hēi dòu.
    I like to eat boiled black soybeans.
  • 黑豆。
    Mā ma yòng hēi dòu lái zhǔ tāng.
    Mom uses black soybeans to make soup.

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.

黑hēiblack
豆dòubean

The bean 黑豆 is black, so its name points to its color.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 黑 seems to come from drawing a head marked with dots, usually read as facial tattoos.

Open 黑 →

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

豆 originally drew some kind of container. It was borrowed for its sound to write the plant name, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 豆 →

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