多糖 (duō táng) — (biochemistry) polysaccharide, complex carbohydrate

Definition

A biochemistry term for a polysaccharide: a long chain of sugar molecules (e.g., starch, cellulose, glycogen). Contrast with 单糖 (single sugar unit) and 寡糖 (short chain of 2–10 units).

noun
(biochemistry) polysaccharidecomplex carbohydrate

Examples

  • 多糖。
    Zhè zhǒng mó gu hán yǒu fēng fù de duō táng.
    This type of mushroom is rich in polysaccharides.
  • 多糖。
    duō táng Shì rén tǐ zhòng yào de néng liàng lái yuán zhī yī.
    Polysaccharides are one of the important energy sources for the human body.
  • 多糖。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū duō táng duì miǎn yì xì tǒng de zuò yòng.
    Scientists are studying the effects of polysaccharides on the immune system.

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.

多duōmany
糖tángsugar

多 conveys many, and 糖 conveys sugar, giving polysaccharide.

Characters in this word

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

多 originally showed two pieces of meat placed together; the repeated meat shape gives the sense of many.

Open 多 →

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
唐
唐táng糖
Same sound today

糖 is made from 米 (rice) and 唐, which gives the sound táng.

Open 糖 →

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