地层 (dì céng) — geological stratum, layer | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

geological stratumlayer

Examples

地层。
Kē xué jiā yán jiū bù tóng de dì céng.
Scientists study different strata.
地层。
Zhè ge dì céng lǐ yǒu hěn duō huà shí.
This stratum contains many fossils.
地层。
Gōng rén wā dào le yí gè hěn shēn de dì céng.
Workers dug to a very deep stratum.

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.

地dìground

地 (ground) and 层 (layer) combine to mean a layer of earth.

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.

土也地

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

也

也yě地dì

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

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 層; 层 is its simplified writing.

尸曾層

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

曾

曾céng層céng

Same sound today

The traditional form 層 uses 尸 for the meaning and 曾 for the sound; the simplified 层 is a later abbreviation.

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