交流电 (jiāo liú diàn) — alternating current (AC)

Definition

noun

alternating current (AC)

交流电。
Wǒ men jiā yòng de shì jiāo liú diàn.
Our home uses alternating current.
交流电。
jiāo liú diàn Bǐ zhí liú diàn gèng shì hé cháng jù lí chuán shū.
Alternating current is more suitable for long-distance transmission than direct current.
交流电。
Lǎo shī jiǎng jiě le jiāo liú diàn hé zhí liú diàn de qū bié.
The teacher explained the difference between alternating current and direct current.

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.

交流alternating flow

偏正Modifier + head

电diànelectricity

交 (alternately) and 流 (flow) make alternating, and 电 (electricity) names AC.

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.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

㐬

㐬㐬流liú

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

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 電; 电 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

雨雨yǔrain

Sound part声符shēngfú

申

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For the traditional form 電, 雨 (rain) sits with 申, read shēn and meaning lightning.