射线 (shè xiàn) — ray (in physics, geometry, or as in X-ray)

Definition

noun

ray (in physics, geometry, or as in X-ray)

Measure word · 条

射线。
Tài yáng fā chū de shè xiàn zhào zài dì qiú shàng.
The rays from the sun shine on the earth.
射线。
Yī shēng yòng shè xiàn gěi bìng rén zuò jiǎn chá.
The doctor uses rays to examine the patient.
射线。
Shù xué lǐ de shè xiàn cóng yì diǎn chū fā.
A ray in math starts from a point.

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 'emit' plus 线 'line' names a line of radiated energy.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

糹泉線

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糹Written in full as糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

泉

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

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Appears in