交感神经 (jiāo gǎn shén jīng) — sympathetic nerve (part of the autonomic nervous system)

Definition

noun
sympathetic nerve (part of the autonomic nervous system)

Examples

  • 交感神经。
    jiāo gǎn shén jīng Shì zì zhǔ shén jīng xì tǒng de yí bù fen.
    The sympathetic nerve is part of the autonomic nervous system.
  • 交感神经。
    Yī shēng tōng guò cè shì jiāo gǎn shén jīng de gōng néng lái pàn duàn huàn zhě de yìng jī fǎn yìng.
    Doctors assess the patient's stress response by testing the function of the sympathetic nerve.
  • ，交感神经。
    Rén chǔ yú jǐn zhāng zhuàng tài shí, jiāo gǎn shén jīng huì bèi jī huó.
    When a person is in a stressful state, the sympathetic nerve becomes activated.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

交感sympathetic
交jiāointer-感gǎnfeeling
偏正Modifier + head
神经nerve
神shénspirit经jīngmeridian
偏正Modifier + head

交感 gives sympathetic, and 神经 names nerve, together sympathetic nerve.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

交 originally drew a human with crossed legs. In the modern shape, the upper part resembles a standing person.

Open 交 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
咸
咸xián感gǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

Open 感 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
示示shìgod; deity
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn神shén
Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

Open 神 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

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