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内分泌 (nèi fēn mì) — endocrine system; internal secretion; hormone (produced by endocrine glands)

Definition

Refers to the endocrine system — glands that release hormones directly into the bloodstream — or to the hormones themselves. In medical contexts it functions as a near-synonym for 'endocrine' (adjective) when modifying systems or disorders.

noun
endocrine systeminternal secretionhormone (produced by endocrine glands)

Examples

  • 内分泌。
    nèi fēn mì Xì tǒng fù zé tiáo jié rén tǐ de xīn chén dài xiè.
    The endocrine system is responsible for regulating the body's metabolism.
  • 内分泌。
    Tā yīn wèi nèi fēn mì shī tiáo qù kàn yī shēng.
    She went to see a doctor because of an endocrine disorder.
  • 内分泌。
    Zhè jiā yī yuàn yǒu zhuān mén de nèi fēn mì kē.
    This hospital has a dedicated endocrinology department.

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.

内nèiinternal
分泌secrete
分fēnseparate泌mìsecrete
联合Coordinate

内 means internal, and 分 plus 泌 express separating and secreting, giving internal secretion.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 入入rùto enter
  • 冂冂jiōnghouse

The shape shows 入 entering into 冂, a house, so it pictures bringing something indoors, giving the sense inside.

Open 内 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

分 pairs 八 (to separate) with 刀 (knife), showing something cut apart with a knife.

Open 分 →

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
必
必bì泌mì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape of 泌 joins 水, meaning water, with 必, which gives the sound.

Open 泌 →
Appears in
BiologyOrgans & Anatomy

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