制动 (zhì dòng) — to brake; to apply the brakes

Definition

verb

to braketo apply the brakes

制动。
Qǐng cǎi zhì dòng.
Please step on the brakes.
制动。
Zhè ge xì tǒng kě yǐ zì dòng zhì dòng.
This system can brake automatically.
制动，。
Tā jí shí zhì dòng, bì miǎn le shì gù.
He braked in time and avoided an accident.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

制 means control and 动 means movement, so 制动 is controlling movement to stop a vehicle or machine.

Characters in this word

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

The form 制 pairs 朱 (tree) with 刀 (knife), showing the act of cutting a tree.

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

重力動

Meaning part形符xíngfú

力力lìstrength

Sound part声符shēngfú

重

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

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Appears in