回收站 (huí shōu zhàn) — (physical) recycling center, collection depot for waste materials; (computing) Recycle Bin (temporary storage for deleted files)

Definition

Used both for a physical recycling/collection depot for waste and for the computer's Recycle Bin where deleted files sit before being permanently removed.

noun
(physical) recycling center, collection depot for waste materials(computing) Recycle Bin (temporary storage for deleted files)

Examples

  • 回收站，。
    Xiǎo qū mén kǒu yǒu yí gè huí shōu zhàn, kě yǐ mài fèi zhǐ hé sù liào píng.
    There is a recycling center at the entrance of the neighborhood where you can sell waste paper and plastic bottles.
  • ，回收站？
    Wǒ bù xiǎo xīn bǎ wén jiàn shān le, néng qù huí shōu zhàn lǐ huán yuán ma?
    I accidentally deleted a file — can I restore it from the Recycle Bin?
  • 回收站，。
    Nǐ xiān bǎ bú yòng de dōng xī fàng dào huí shōu zhàn, huí tóu zài fēn lèi chǔ lǐ.
    First put the unused items in the collection depot, and we'll sort them later.

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.

回收collect back
回huíback收shōucollect
偏正Modifier + head
站zhànstation

回 back and 收 collect make 回收, and 站 station gives a 回收站 for collecting items.

Characters in this word

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

回 comes from a drawing of a spiral, showing something turning around.

Open 回 →

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
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
丩
丩jiū收shōu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

收 uses 攴 to show an action and 丩 as a sound clue; the old meaning was 'to arrest.'

Open 收 →

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
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn站zhàn
Same sound today

站 has 立 on the left and 占 on the right; 立 relates to standing, and 占 gives the sound.

Open 站 →

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