Phono-semantic — one part hints at the meaning, another at the sound
Example phrases
她在典礼上戴了一对祖母留下来的银耳环。Tā zài diǎnlǐ shang dài le yí duì zǔmǔ liú xiàlai de yín ěrhuán.At the ceremony, she wore a pair of silver earrings left to her by her grandmother.
她今天戴了一副红色的耳环,特别漂亮。Tā jīntiān dài le yí fù hóngsè de ěrhuán, tèbié piàoliang.She is wearing a pair of red earrings today, and they look especially pretty.
我的一只耳环不见了,可能掉在回家的路上。Wǒ de yì zhī ěrhuán bújiàn le, kěnéng diào zài huí jiā de lù shang.One of my earrings is missing; it may have fallen off on the way home.