(shéng zi) - rope, string, cord in Mandarin
shéngziTraditional: 繩子
Translation
rope, string, cord
Word origin
绳 is a phono-semantic character built from the silk radical 纟 (sī, thread) with 黾 supplying the sound. 子 is the noun suffix that turns many one-syllable objects into everyday words.
- Origin
- phonetic
- Root
- 纟(sī, silk radical) + 黾 (phonetic) + 子 (noun suffix)
Stroke order
绳
子
Examples
。
He tied the box up with rope.
。
This piece of rope is too short.
，桶井。
The rope broke and the bucket fell into the well.
。
Please hang the rope on the tree.
。
I keep a rope in the car.
绳子 (shéng zi) is rope or string of any thickness, from parcel twine to a mooring line. The 子 on the end carries no meaning; it is the same neutral-tone suffix you see on 桌子, 椅子 and 儿子, and it is dropped in compounds such as 跳绳 (skipping) and 绳索.
The measure words are worth pinning down early. 根 is the default for a length of rope, 条 works for a longer flexible one, and 段 picks out a section cut from a longer piece.
The trap is the verb. English ties things with rope, but Chinese uses different verbs for different actions: 绑 for tying something up, 系 for tying a knot or fastening, 捆 for bundling. Reaching for 绑 every time will be understood, though 系鞋带 (to tie shoelaces) shows how quickly the distinction bites.
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绳子: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "绳子" (rope, string, cord): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 59.