Definitions
(noun)
upper arm; wing
(noun)
bladder
(adjective)
swollen
Etymology
Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 旁 represents the sound.
About
The character "膀" is structured as a phono-semantic compound, integrating the radical "肉" to signify its connection to bodily flesh alongside the phonetic element "旁" which guides pronunciation. Its early usage centered on the upper arm or shoulder region, a meaning derived directly from its semantic component, but over time its application widened to encompass the arm in a general sense and, through metaphorical extension, the wing of a bird as evident in the term "翅膀". Further semantic development occurred with its incorporation into the compound "膀胱", where it acquired a specialized anatomical reference to the urinary bladder, illustrating a shift from denoting external limbs to including internal organs. This progression in conceptual scope highlights how the character's core construction remained constant while its meanings diversified according to linguistic and contextual demands.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我的肩膀很疼。
他摔伤了胳膊和肩膀。
小鸟的翅膀受伤了。
运动员有宽阔的肩膀。
她轻轻地拍了一下我的肩膀。
蝴蝶的翅膀在阳光下闪闪发光。
经过锻炼，他的膀子变得更有力了。
医生检查了他的肩膀，发现没有骨折。