原子钟 (yuán zǐ zhōng) — atomic clock

Definition

noun

atomic clock

Measure word · 台

原子钟，。
Zhè tái yuán zǐ zhōng fēi cháng jīng què, měi nián wù chā bú dào yì miǎo.
This atomic clock is extremely precise, with an error of less than one second per year.
原子钟。
Kē xué jiā yòng yuán zǐ zhōng lái cè liáng dì qiú de zì zhuàn sù dù.
Scientists use atomic clocks to measure the Earth's rotation speed.
原子钟。
Quán qiú dìng wèi xì tǒng yī lài yuán zǐ zhōng tí gōng zhǔn què de shí jiān xìn hào.
The global positioning system relies on atomic clocks to provide accurate time signals.

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.

原子atom

后缀Suffix

原子 gives an atom and 钟 gives a clock, together an atomic clock.

Characters in this word

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

原 combines 泉 (spring) and 厂 (cliff), picturing a spring bursting from a cliff-side, which gives the sense of origin or source.

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.