分泌 (fēn mì) — to secrete | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal/scientific verb meaning a gland or organ produces and releases a substance (hormones, sweat, enzymes). The noun form is 分泌物 ('secretion').

verb

to secrete

Examples

分泌。
Yùn dòng hòu shēn tǐ huì fēn mì hěn duō hàn.
The body secretes a lot of sweat after exercise.
分泌。
Zhè zhǒng jī sù yóu jiǎ zhuàng xiàn fēn mì.
This hormone is secreted by the thyroid gland.
分泌。
Wèi yè néng fēn mì xiāo huà méi bāng zhù fēn jiě shí wù.
Gastric juice can secrete digestive enzymes to help break down food.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

分fēnseparate

泌mìpour out

分 and 泌 both point to separating and pouring out, together describing secretion.

Characters in this word

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

八刀分

八八bāto separate
刀刀dāoknife

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

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Biology

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