准星 (zhǔn xīng) — front sight (of a gun)

Definition

noun

front sight (of a gun)

准星。
Tā tōng guò zhǔn xīng miáo zhǔn le mù biāo.
He aimed at the target through the front sight.
准星。
Zhè bǎ qiāng de zhǔn xīng xū yào tiáo zhěng yí xià.
The front sight of this gun needs some adjustment.
准星。
Jiào zhǔn zhǔn xīng shì shè jī xùn liàn de dì yī bù.
Calibrating the front sight is the first step in shooting training.

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.

'准' (aim) and '星' (star) name a small aiming point.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 準; 准 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

隼

隼sǔn準zhǔn

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 準, not 准, pairs 水 (water) with 隼 as a sound part; the evidence describes it as 'water level'.

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

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.