弹道 (dàn dào) — trajectory (of a projectile, missile, or bullet)

Definition

noun

trajectory (of a projectile, missile, or bullet)

Measure word · 条

弹道。
Dǎo dàn de dàn dào jīng guò jīng què jì suàn.
The missile's trajectory was precisely calculated.
弹道。
Zǐ dàn de dàn dào shòu fēng sù yǐng xiǎng hěn dà.
The bullet's trajectory is greatly affected by wind speed.
弹道。
Háng tiān gōng chéng shī fēn xī le huǒ jiàn de dàn dào.
The aerospace engineer analyzed the rocket's trajectory.

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.

弹道 combines 弹, meaning bullet, with 道, meaning path, to picture the flight path of a projectile.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

弓單彈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

單

單dān彈tán

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a shorthand.

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

行行xíngstreet

Sound part声符shēngfú

𩠐

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

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Appears in