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吸力 (xī lì) — suction; (magnetic) attraction; (physics) gravitation

Definition

noun
suction(magnetic) attraction(physics) gravitation

Examples

  • 吸力。
    Zhè ge xī chén qì de xī lì hěn qiáng.
    This vacuum cleaner has strong suction.
  • 吸力。
    Cí tiě de xī lì kě yǐ xī zhù tiě dīng.
    The attraction of a magnet can hold an iron nail.
  • 吸力。
    Dì qiú de xī lì ràng wù tǐ luò xiàng dì miàn.
    The Earth's gravity makes objects fall toward the ground.

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.

吸xīsuck
力lìforce

吸 sucking and 力 force combine to mean a pulling or attracting force.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí吸xī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

吸 pairs 口 (mouth) with 及, which gives the sound and relates to grabbing, so the shape suggests grabbing through the mouth.

Open 吸 →

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

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →
Appears in
Physics & Chemistry

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