双绞线 (shuāng jiǎo xiàn) — twisted pair (cabling)

Definition

A type of network cable made of two insulated copper wires twisted together to reduce electrical interference — a common cabling standard in Ethernet networks.

noun
twisted pair (cabling)

Examples

  • 双绞线。
    Zhè ge wǎng luò shǐ yòng shuāng jiǎo xiàn lián jiē diàn nǎo.
    This network uses twisted pair to connect computers.
  • 双绞线。
    shuāng jiǎo xiàn Shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de wǎng xiàn.
    Twisted pair is a common type of network cable.
  • 双绞线。
    Jì shù rén yuán zài bàn gōng shì ān zhuāng le shuāng jiǎo xiàn.
    The technician installed twisted pair cables in the office.

Origin

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.

双shuāngpair
绞线twisted wire
绞jiǎotwist线xiànwire
偏正Modifier + head

双 gives pair or double, while 绞线 means twisted wire; together they name cabling made of two twisted wires.

Characters in this word

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

双 is made of two 又 parts side by side. Repeating 又 gives the sense of a pair.

Open 双 →

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 絞; 绞 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
交
交jiāo絞jiǎo
Same sound today

The traditional form 絞 pairs 糸 (thread) with 交 as the sound part; the simplified 绞 is a later abbreviation.

Open 绞 →

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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