小规模 (xiǎo guī mó) — on a small scale

Definition

adverb

on a small scale

小规模。
Tā men xiān xiǎo guī mó shì yàn yí xià xīn fāng fǎ.
They first test the new method on a small scale.
小规模，。
Zhè ge gōng sī xiǎo guī mó jīng yíng, dàn lì rùn hěn gāo.
This company operates on a small scale, but profits are high.
小规模。
Wǒ men jì huà xiǎo guī mó shēng chǎn zhè zhǒng chǎn pǐn.
We plan to produce this product on a small scale.

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.

规模scale

联合Side by side

小 (small) limits 规模, where 规 and 模 both suggest a standard or model, giving a small scale.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 規; 规 is its simplified writing.

夫見規

The simplified 规 is a shorthand; the traditional form 規 shows a cross-shaped compass in its early drawing, and its later form uses 夫 and 見.

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

木莫模

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree

Sound part声符shēngfú

莫

Same sound today

The left part 木 is tree; the right part 莫 gives the sound.