胎

tāi

台 + 月

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

tāi (noun) fetus; embryo; womb

tāi (noun) tire

tāi (noun) padding (in clothing or bedding)

tāi (noun) origin; source

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 台 represents the sound.

Semantic: ⺼ Phonetic: 台

About

胎 is a phonosemantic compound: ⺼ (the flesh radical, written as 月) indicates the semantic category of body, while 台 provides the sound, its original meaning 'platform' is irrelevant. The character originally denoted an embryo or fetus in the womb, and by extension birth, pregnancy, or the origin of life. In modern contexts, it also means tire or inner tube, by analogy with the womb's inflated, enclosed form.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的汽车轮胎破了。

Wǒ de qìchē lúntāi pòle.

My car tire is flat.

胎儿在母亲肚子里生长。

Tāi'ér zài mǔqīn dùzi lǐ shēngzhǎng.

The fetus grows in the mother's womb.

我们需要检查轮胎气压。

Wǒmen xūyào jiǎnchá lúntāi qìyā.

We need to check the tire pressure.

怀孕期间要保护胎儿健康。

Huáiyùn qījiān yào bǎohù tāi'ér jiànkāng.

During pregnancy, protect the health of the fetus.

轮胎的磨损程度影响安全。

Lúntāi de mósǔn chéngdù yǐngxiǎng ānquán.

The degree of tire wear affects safety.

医生用超声波观察胎儿发育。

Yīshēng yòng chāoshēngbō guānchá tāi'ér fāyù.

Doctors use ultrasound to observe fetal development.

定期更换轮胎可以预防事故。

Dìngqī gēnghuàn lúntāi kěyǐ yùfáng shìgù.

Regularly changing tires can prevent accidents.

胎儿的基因检测能发现疾病。

Tāi'ér de jīyīn jiǎncè néng fāxiàn jíbìng.

Genetic testing of the fetus can detect diseases.

Related Characters

Component: 台

Component: 月

胎