冷凝 (lěng níng) — condensation (physical process) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Technical term for the physical process of a gas turning into a liquid (condensation), as when water vapor meets a cold surface. Usually appears in scientific or engineering contexts, often paired with words like 冷凝器 (condenser) or 冷凝水 (condensate).

noun

condensation (physical process)

Examples

冷凝。
Shuǐ zhēng qì yù lěng huì xíng chéng lěng níng.
Water vapor turns into condensation when it meets cold air.
冷凝。
Zhè ge shí yàn xū yào guān chá lěng níng de guò chéng.
This experiment requires observing the process of condensation.
冷凝。
Lěng níng qì de zuò yòng shì shǐ qì tǐ lěng níng.
The function of a condenser is to make the gas condense.

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.

凝níngcondense

冷 “cold” describes how 凝 “condense” occurs, forming condensation.

Characters in this word

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

冫令冷

Meaning part形符xíngfú

冫Written in full as仌bīngice

Sound part声符shēngfú

令

令lìng冷lěng

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

冷 uses 冫, the ice form, with 令 as a sound part, to mean cold as ice.

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

冫疑凝

Meaning part形符xíngfú

冫Written in full as仌bīngice

Sound part声符shēngfú

疑

疑yí凝níng

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

凝 pairs 冫 (ice, also written 仌) with 疑, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Physics & Chemistry

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