About
The character "枚" is structurally composed of the wood radical (木) combined with the component "攵", which implies an action associated with striking or tapping, reflecting its early association with a tree branch or trunk that could be used as a slender implement or whip. From this original concrete meaning denoting a wooden object, its application gradually broadened through metaphorical extension to function as a numeral classifier, first for items resembling sticks or twigs and then expanding to quantify a variety of small, flat items such as coins, medals, and badges. This transition from a specific noun to a general measure word represents a typical lexical shift in Chinese, and while its original substantive sense has become archaic, "枚" persists primarily in modern usage as a versatile classifier for discrete, often thin objects.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我找到一枚硬币。
这枚邮票很漂亮。
他送我一枚戒指。
我收藏了一枚古老的硬币。
这枚奖章代表他的荣誉。
发射一枚导弹需要精确计算。
在博物馆里，我看到一枚锈迹斑斑的铁币。
经过仔细检查，专家确认这枚印章是唐代的文物。