Phono-semantic — one part hints at the meaning, another at the sound
Example phrases
我明天去市政大厅开会,可以顺路把材料送到你办公室。Wǒ míngtiān qù shìzhèng dàtīng kāihuì, kěyǐ shùnlù bǎ cáiliào sòng dào nǐ bàngōngshì.I'm going to a meeting at city hall tomorrow, so I can drop the materials at your office on the way.
你下班回家要是顺路,帮我买一瓶酱油好吗?Nǐ xiàbān huí jiā yàoshi shùnlù, bāng wǒ mǎi yī píng jiàngyóu hǎo ma?If it's on your way home from work, could you buy me a bottle of soy sauce?
我顺路送妹妹去车站,然后再去超市。Wǒ shùnlù sòng mèimei qù chēzhàn, ránhòu zài qù chāoshì.I'll drop my younger sister at the station on the way, then go to the supermarket.