亭 tíng pavilion
kiosk
How it came to be
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
The small seal form puts a tall building over the nail, which gives the sound.
用法
- A pavilion, an open roofed structure in gardens and parks: 凉亭 (liángtíng) a cooling pavilion, 亭子 (tíngzi).
- Also small roadside booths/kiosks: 报亭 (bàotíng) newsstand, 电话亭 (diànhuàtíng) phone booth.
- So its modern range runs from garden pavilion to street kiosk.