宇航 (yǔ háng) — space navigation; astronautics | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

space navigationastronautics

Examples

宇航，。
Tā duì yǔ háng hěn yǒu xìng qù, xiǎng dāng yǔ háng yuán.
He is very interested in astronautics and wants to become an astronaut.
宇航。
Zhōng guó de yǔ háng jì shù fā zhǎn dé hěn kuài.
China's space technology is developing very quickly.
宇航。
Zhè běn shū jiè shào le yǔ háng de jī běn zhī shi.
This book introduces the basics of space navigation.

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.

航hángnavigation

宇航 combines 宇 for space and 航 for navigating, meaning navigation through space.

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.

宀于宇

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánhouse

Sound part声符shēngfú

于

于yú宇yǔ

Same sound today

宇 pairs 宀, a roof-like shape connected with house parts such as eaves, with 于, which gives the pronunciation.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

舟亢航

Meaning part形符xíngfú

舟舟zhōuboat

Sound part声符shēngfú

亢

亢kàng航háng

Same sound today

航 shows a boat with 舟, and 亢 gives the character its sound.

Appears in

Space Exploration

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