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反应器 (fǎn yìng qì) — reactor

Definition

A 'reactor' is a vessel or device that drives a chemical or physical reaction, including 核反应器 (nuclear reactor) for energy.

noun
reactor
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 反应器。
    Zhè ge fǎn yìng qì yòng yú shēng chǎn huà xué pǐn.
    This reactor is used to produce chemicals.
  • 。
    Hé fǎn yìng qì xū yào yán gé de ān quán cuò shī.
    Nuclear reactors require strict safety measures.
  • 反应器。
    Tā men zhèng zài shè jì yì zhǒng xīn xíng fǎn yìng qì.
    They are designing a new type of reactor.

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.

反应reaction
反fǎnrespond应yìngrespond
联合Coordinate
器qìdevice

反应 gives the action of responding, and 器 is a device.

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 →

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 應; 应 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
䧹
䧹䧹應yìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 應 pairs 心 (heart) with 䧹 as a sound part; the simplified 应 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the original components.

Open 应 →

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

The origin of 器 is uncertain; one traditional account reads the whole shape as a scene of guarding over four vessels.

Open 器 →
Appears in
Physics & ChemistryTechnology & Engineering

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