地磁 (dì cí) — geomagnetism, Earth's magnetic field

Definition

Refers to Earth's magnetic field — the geomagnetic force surrounding the planet. A scientific term used in contexts like auroras, navigation, and animal migration.

noun
geomagnetismEarth's magnetic field

Examples

  • 地磁。
    dì cí De biàn huà huì yǐng xiǎng hòu niǎo de qiān xǐ fāng xiàng.
    Changes in geomagnetism can affect the migration direction of migratory birds.
  • 地磁。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū dì cí duì shǒu jī xìn hào de yǐng xiǎng.
    Scientists are studying the effect of Earth's magnetic field on cell phone signals.
  • 地磁。
    Jí guāng shì yóu dì cí hé tài yáng fēng xiāng hù zuò yòng chǎn shēng de.
    Auroras are produced by the interaction between Earth's magnetic field and solar wind.

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dìearth
磁címagnetism

地 refers to the earth, and 磁 means magnetism; together they denote the earth's magnetic field.

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
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.

Open 地 →

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
石石shírock; stone
Sound part声符shēngfú
兹
兹zī磁cí
Same sound today

磁 is built from 石, meaning rock or stone, and 兹, which gives the sound.

Open 磁 →

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