Definition
芭 is a bound morpheme never used alone in modern Chinese. It appears in the compound 芭蕉 (bājiāo, 'banana' — the same plant as 香蕉) and in transliterations such as 芭蕾 (bālěi, 'ballet') and 芭比 (bābǐ, 'Barbie'). Historically it also refers to a fragrant plant mentioned in the ancient Songs of the South (楚辞), but this usage is obsolete.
char.
(bound morpheme) used in 芭蕉 and in transliterations
Examples
- 芭。Nánfāng rén xǐhuan yòng bā jiāo yè bāo zòngzi.Southerners like to wrap zongzi with banana leaves.
- 。Tā xué le shí nián bā lěi wǔ.She studied ballet for ten years.
- 芭。Nà ge xiǎo nǚhái de shēngrì lǐwù shì yí ge bā bǐ wáwa.That little girl's birthday gift was a Barbie doll.
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