反射镜 (fǎn shè jìng) — reflector; reflecting mirror

Definition

noun
reflectorreflecting mirror
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 反射镜。
    Tiān wén tái yòng jù dà de fǎn shè jìng lái guān cè xīng kōng.
    The observatory uses a huge reflector to observe the stars.
  • 反射镜，。
    Zhè liàng chē de fǎn shè jìng huài le, wǎn shàng kāi chē bù ān quán.
    The reflector on this car is broken; it's not safe to drive at night.
  • 反射镜。
    Jī guāng shí yàn xū yào gāo zhì liàng de fǎn shè jìng.
    Laser experiments require a high-quality reflecting mirror.

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.

反射reflection
反fǎnreverse射shèemit
偏正Modifier + head
镜jìngmirror

「反射」 gives the kind of 「镜」: a reflecting mirror.

Characters in this word

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
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
厂
厂chǎng反fǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

反 uses 又 (hand) for meaning and 厂 for sound. Its original shape showed a hand turning its palm over, giving the sense of return or reverse.

Open 反 →

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

In 射, the left part comes from 弓 (bow) and 矢 (arrow), and the right part comes from a hand drawing the bowstring.

Open 射 →

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 鏡; 镜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
竟
竟jìng鏡jìng
Same sound today

The traditional form 鏡 puts 金, metal, next to 竟 to give the sound. The simplified 镜 is a later shorthand.

Open 镜 →

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