凡尔 (fán ěr) — valve

Definition

Loanword for 'valve' used in technical and mechanical contexts (steam engines, plumbing, machinery). It is a 音译 (phonetic transliteration), not a native Chinese compound.

noun
valve
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 凡尔。
    Zhè ge fán ěr de xíng hào yǐ jīng tíng chǎn le.
    This model of valve has been discontinued.
  • 凡尔。
    Wéi xiū shī fu shuō xū yào huàn yí gè xīn de fán ěr.
    The repairman said a new valve needs to be replaced.
  • 凡尔。
    Jiù shì zhēng qì jī shàng yòng de fán ěr hěn nán zhǎo dào pèi jiàn.
    It's hard to find spare parts for the valves used on old steam engines.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

Open 凡 →

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 爾; 尔 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 爾, simplified as 尔, originally drew cloth on a loom with crossing threads. It was borrowed for its sound to write “you,” so the picture is unrelated to that meaning.

Open 尔 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.