弧线 (hú xiàn) — arc | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

arc

Measure word · 条

弧线。
Zhè tiáo hú xiàn hěn yōu měi.
This arc is very graceful.
弧线。
Tā tī chū de qiú huà chū yí dào hú xiàn.
The ball he kicked traced an arc.
弧线。
Qiáo de hú xiàn shè jì fēi cháng dú tè.
The arc design of the bridge is very unique.

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.

弧 (arc) and 线 (line) combine to mean a curved line.

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.

弓瓜弧

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

瓜

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

弧 uses 弓 (bow) to show a wooden bow or a curve like a bow, and 瓜 for the pronunciation.

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.

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