Origins of Chinese Characters and Words

Analysis of Major Characters and Words (第十一课)

1. 游览游(swim; travel around) + 览 (the 见 radical , “view”)

3. 名胜古迹名(short for 有名 “famous”) + 胜 (“wonders”) + 古 (short for 古代

“ancient”) + 迹 (“track, trace”)

4. 想像想(think) + 像(visual, picture)

5. 故事故(of the past; former) + 事(things, events)

8. 人山人海 (literally “people mountain people sea”)

9. 人口 You get the population numbers by counting mouths (口)of people.

10. 程度程(“procedure”)+度(“degree”)

11. 体会体(“body; experience”) + 会(“comprehend”) -> comprehend by

experiencing it

13. 建筑建(build; building) + 筑(the 竹 radical on top, “bamboo cottage”)

15. 别具风格别(short for 特别, “other; special, unique”)+具(formal, = 有)

+风(literally “wind” -> style) + 格(literally “wooden pattern” -> manner)

17. 吸引吸(“suck, inhale” as in 吸烟 ) + 引 (attract, draw)

18. 当年当(that or those very…) + 年(year or years)

19. 妙龄妙(wonderful) + 龄(year of age, = 岁)

22. 狠狠地狠 (the radical on the left, “reptile animal; beast” -> bestially, inhumanely)

23. 瞪瞪 (the 目radical, “eye”; 登 the phonetic component)

25. 划船划(the 刀 radical on the right, “knife” -> “cut the water like knife” -> “row;

paddle”)

27. 印象印(imprint, impress, stamp) + 象(graphic; sign)

29. 陵墓陵(high mound) + 墓(the “grass” part on top, the “sun” part 日in the middle,

the “earth” radical 土 at the bottom -> tomb, grave)

31. 壮观壮(grand, magnificent) + 观 (the 见 radical , “view”)

36. 恋恋不舍恋恋(the top part “unbroken” 亦, the “heart” radical 心 at the bottom)

+ 不舍 (not abandon or leave)

39. 葬葬 (the “grass” radical on top, underneath the grass is the “death” part 死,

the coffin props at the bottom -> bury, entomb)

40. 忍不住忍(the “heart” radical 心, “hold in heart” -> endure; withhold)

44. 一本正经正 (orthodox; correct) + 经 (canon, bible)

45. 说定说定(定 short for 决定 “decide, settle”) -> “talk and then settle it”

46. 墓碑墓(tomb, see 29) + 碑 (the “stone” radical 石, “stone tablet”)

48. 生气生(generate) + 气 (air or sentiments <of rage>)

49. 秘密秘(mysterious, secret) + 密 (the “mountain” radical 山) -> “hidden in the

mountains”