carved decoration; protruding edge; historical broker
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
carved or decorative edging on furniture, architecture, or objects; protruding rim or edge
colloquialOften used in northern Chinese dialects to refer to curbs or edges of roads (马路牙子).
Zhè这
tào套
hóng红
mù木
jiā家
jù具
de的
yá牙
zi子
diāo雕
kè刻
de得
fēi非
cháng常
jīng精
xì细
。
The carved decorative edging on this set of mahogany furniture is very exquisite.
Xiǎo小
xīn心
mǎ马
lù路
yá牙
zi子
，
bié别
bàn绊
dǎo倒
le了
。
Watch out for the curb, don't trip.
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Gǔ古
jiàn建
zhù筑
de的
mén门
chuāng窗
shàng上
dōu都
yǒu有
jīng精
měi美
de的
yá牙
zi子
zhuāng装
shì饰
。
The doors and windows of ancient architecture all have exquisite carved decorative edgings.
noun
middleman or broker who matched buyers with sellers and took commission (historical)
archaicRefers to traditional brokers in agricultural or livestock trade before modern commercial systems. Often carried a negative connotation of exploiting small producers.
Guò过
qù去
xiāng乡
xià下
mài卖
liáng粮
shí食
dōu都
yào要
jīng经
guò过
yá牙
zi子
。
In the past, selling grain in the countryside always had to go through middlemen.
Tā他
fù父
qīn亲
yǐ以
qián前
shì是
zuò做
shēng牲
kǒu口
yá牙
zi子
de的
。
His father used to be a livestock broker.
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Zhè这
xiē些
yá牙
zi子
wǎng往
wǎng往
liǎng两
tóu头
zhuàn赚
qián钱
，
pán盘
bō剥
nóng农
mín民
。
These middlemen often made money from both ends, exploiting the farmers.