分布图 (fēn bù tú) — distribution map, scatter diagram

Definition

noun

distribution mapscatter diagram

Measure word · 张

分布图。
Zhè zhāng fēn bù tú xiǎn shì le rén kǒu mì dù.
This distribution map shows population density.
分布图。
Lǎo shī yòng fēn bù tú lái jiě shì shù jù.
The teacher used a scatter diagram to explain the data.
分布图。
Wǒ huà le yì zhāng chéng shì gōng yuán fēn bù tú.
I drew a distribution map of city parks.

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.

分布distribution

分fēndistribute布bùspread

联合Side by side

图túdiagram

分 and 布 together mean spreading, so 分布图 is a diagram of that spread.

Characters in this word

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

八刀分

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

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

巾巾jīnkerchief

Sound part声符shēngfú

父

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

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 圖; 图 is its simplified writing.

囗啚圖

The traditional form 圖 pairs 囗, a walled city, with 啚, an early form meaning remote areas or territory. The simplified 图 is a later abbreviation.