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反应堆 (fǎn yìng duī) — reactor (nuclear or chemical)

Definition

noun
reactor (nuclear or chemical)
Measure word · 座

Examples

  • 反应堆。
    Zhè ge fǎn yìng duī shì ān quán shè jì de.
    This reactor is designed with safety in mind.
  • 反应堆。
    Hé diàn zhàn de fǎn yìng duī xū yào dìng qī jiǎn chá.
    The reactor of a nuclear power plant needs regular inspection.
  • 反应堆。
    Xīn fǎn yìng duī yǐ jīng kāi shǐ fā diàn le.
    The new reactor has already started generating electricity.

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
堆duīpile

反应 names the reaction, and 堆 adds the pile sense; together 反应堆 denotes a reactor.

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 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
隹
隹zhuī堆duī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

堆 is built from 土 (earth) and 隹, which supplies the sound.

Open 堆 →
Appears in
Energy & Power

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