Definitions

(noun) nose

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. is a pictograph of a nose and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 鼻 is a phono-semantic compound with 自 on top and 畀 below as the phonetic component. 自 originally depicted a nose in its pictographic form, but its meaning gradually shifted to represent "self", as people commonly pointed to their noses when referring to themselves. To re-establish the anatomical sense after this semantic change, the phonetic element 畀 was added underneath, forming the current character specifically denoting the nose, the organ for breathing and smelling, and by extension, the starting point of something.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的子很痒。

Wǒ de bízi hěn yǎng.

My nose is very itchy.

他揉了揉子。

Tā róu le róu bízi.

He rubbed his nose.

感冒时子不通。

Gǎnmào shí bízi bù tōng.

When having a cold, the nose is blocked.

医生检查了他的子。

Yīshēng jiǎnchá le tā de bízi.

The doctor examined his nose.

她的梁挺直很漂亮。

Tā de bíliáng tǐngzhí hěn piàoliang.

Her nose bridge is straight and very beautiful.

炎让他经常打喷嚏。

Bíyán ràng tā jīngcháng dǎ pēntì.

Rhinitis makes him sneeze frequently.

他说话带有浓重的音。

Tā shuōhuà dài yǒu nóngzhòng de bíyīn.

He speaks with a heavy nasal sound.

嗅觉主要依靠子内的感受器。

Xiùjué zhǔyào yīkào bízi nèi de gǎnshòu qì.

The sense of smell mainly relies on receptors inside the nose.