反射面 (fǎn shè miàn) — reflecting surface

Definition

noun

reflecting surface

Measure word · 个

反射面。
Zhè ge wàng yuǎn jìng de fǎn shè miàn fēi cháng guāng huá.
The reflecting surface of this telescope is very smooth.
反射面。
Léi dá de fǎn shè miàn xū yào dìng qī wéi hù.
The reflecting surface of the radar needs regular maintenance.
，反射面。
Guāng xué shí yàn zhōng, fǎn shè miàn de wèi zhì hěn zhòng yào.
In optical experiments, the position of the reflecting surface is very important.

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

偏正Modifier + head

「反射」 gives the kind of 「面」: a reflecting surface.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

厂

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.

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.

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

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.