TongTong
Sign in

受体 (shòu tǐ) — receptor

Definition

Receptor is a biology-specific noun referring to a protein on a cell surface (or inside a cell) that binds to specific molecules like drugs, hormones, or antigens to trigger a response.

noun
receptor
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 受体。
    Zhè zhǒng yào wù huì yǔ xì bāo biǎo miàn de shòu tǐ jié hé.
    This drug will bind to receptors on the cell surface.
  • 受体。
    Yán jiū rén yuán fā xiàn le yí gè xīn de shòu tǐ jī yīn.
    Researchers discovered a new receptor gene.
  • 受体。
    Miǎn yì xì tǒng de shòu tǐ néng shí bié wài lái wù zhì.
    Receptors in the immune system can recognize foreign substances.

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.

受shòureceive
体tǐbody

受 gives receiving and 体 gives a body or entity.

Characters in this word

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

受 possibly combines 爪 and 又 as hands with 舟 as a boat, to show handing something over.

Open 受 →

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 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
骨骨gǔbone
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ體tǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Open 体 →
Appears in
Biology

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.