Chinlingo Chinese character: 巴 (bā)

As a pictographic character, "巴" (bā) looks like a snake moving on the ground a zig-zag pattern, which generates the meaning of "cling to; stick to". For example, "巴着" (bā zhe) means "cling to", and "巴结" (bā jie) means "fawn on; flatter".

巴（bā）是个象形字。它的字型犹如一条盘曲的蛇紧贴地面爬行。由此形象，抽象出"紧贴、挨近"的含义。比如词语：巴着（bā zhe） 、 巴结（bā jie）。

In modern Chinese, "巴" is provided with an extensional meaning, "hope earnestly; wait anxiously for". For example, "巴望" (bā wànɡ) means "hope for anxiously" and "巴不得" (bā bù dé) means "be only too anxious (to do something); earnestly wish".

在现代汉语中，巴（bā）还有个引申义，指盼望。比如词语：巴望（bā wànɡ）、巴不得（bā bù dé）。

In addition, "巴" can also be used as a noun, meaning "crust; crust-like substance". For example, "锅巴" (ɡuō bā) refers to "rice crust sticking to pot", and "泥巴"  (ní bā) means "mud".

此外，巴（bā）作为名词时，解释为"粘着的东西"。比如：锅巴（ɡuō bā）、泥巴（ní bā）。

Rhymed Chinese words are preferred in Mandarin Chinese, so monosyllables are often suffixed for rhyming. "巴" is usually used as a suffix, like "嘴巴" (zuǐ ba, mouth) and 尾巴 (wěi ba, tail). Special attention here, it is pronounced in the neutral tone, b-a, ba, when used as a suffix.

汉语词汇喜押韵。单音节字后常加上后缀形成押韵的字。比如，巴（bā）作为后缀词时就常常出现在词尾。比如： 嘴巴（zuǐ ba）、尾巴（wěi ba）。特别需要注意的是，巴（bā）作为后缀时读轻声， ba。

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