射流 (shè liú) — (physics) jet flow; efflux

Definition

Physics/fluid-dynamics term for a high-speed stream of fluid ejected from an opening — a technical noun, not everyday 'flow' (流动).

noun

(physics) jet flowefflux

射流。
Zhè zhǒng shè liú kě yǐ yòng yú qiē gē jīn shǔ cái liào.
This type of jet flow can be used to cut metal materials.
，射流。
Zài liú tǐ lì xué zhōng, shè liú de sù dù fēi cháng zhòng yào.
In fluid dynamics, the velocity of the jet flow is very important.
射流。
Yī shēng shǐ yòng gāo yā shè liú lái qīng xǐ shāng kǒu.
Doctors use high-pressure jet flow to clean wounds.

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.

射 gives the idea of shooting or ejecting, while 流 names a stream, yielding a jet flow.

Characters in this word

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

In 射, the left part comes from 弓 (bow) and 矢 (arrow), and the right part comes from a hand drawing the bowstring.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

㐬

㐬㐬流liú

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

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.