Understanding "鼻子" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 鼻子
• Pinyin: bí zi
• Literal Meaning: "Nose" (the body part)
• Primary Meaning: The anatomical nose; can also metaphorically refer to one's sense of smell or pride (e.g., "hurting someone's nose" means hurting their pride).

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage:
• "鼻子" is the standard term for the nose in Chinese, used in both formal and informal contexts.
• It can describe physical features (e.g., "他的鼻子很高" – "He has a tall nose").

• In idioms or expressions, it may carry symbolic meanings, such as pride or intuition (e.g., "鼻子酸" means "to feel moved to tears").

• Character Breakdown:

• 鼻 (bí): Stands alone as the character for "nose." Its ancient pictograph resembles a nose.
• 子 (zi): A neutral suffix often added to nouns (like "鼻子," "桌子" – table) without changing the core meaning.

3. Example Sentences

1. Chinese: 我的鼻子有点堵。
   Pinyin: Wǒ de bízi yǒudiǎn dǔ.
   English: My nose is a bit stuffy.

2. Chinese: 她有一个小巧的鼻子。
   Pinyin: Tā yǒu yīgè xiǎoqiǎo de bízi.
   English: She has a small and delicate nose.

3. Chinese: 这个故事让我鼻子酸了。
   Pinyin: Zhège gùshi ràng wǒ bízi suānle.
   English: This story made me emotional (lit. "made my nose sour").

Cultural Notes

• In Chinese culture, the nose is sometimes associated with luck or character. For example, a "high nose bridge" (高鼻梁) is traditionally considered a sign of beauty or strong personality.
• The phrase "碰一鼻子灰" (pèng yī bízi huī, lit. "to bump into a nose full of dust") means to be rejected or snubbed, reflecting the nose's symbolic link to pride.

Conclusion

"鼻子" (bí zi) is a straightforward yet versatile word referring to the nose, with both literal and figurative uses. Remember it as the go-to term for facial features or expressions involving emotions and pride.