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微波 (wēi bō) — microwave (electromagnetic wave); ripple (small wave on water)

Definition

Literally 'tiny waves': in physics, an electromagnetic wave (as in 微波炉 microwave oven); figuratively, the small ripples on a calm water surface.

noun
microwave (electromagnetic wave)ripple (small wave on water)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 微波。
    wēi bō Shì yì zhǒng diàn cí bō.
    Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic wave.
  • 微波。
    Hú miàn shàng yǒu wēi bō dàng yàng.
    There are ripples on the lake surface.
  • 微波。
    wēi bō De yìng yòng hěn guǎng fàn.
    The applications of microwaves are very broad.

Origin

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.

微wēismall
波bōwave

small and wave combine to mean a faint wave or microwave.

Characters in this word

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

The old form showed 𡵂 (a variant of 美, a person with long hair) and 攵 (a hand with a tool) splitting or combing hairs, hence minute; 微 later added 彳 to emphasize action.

Open 微 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí波bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 氵 is water, and the right side 皮 gives the sound.

Open 波 →
Appears in
Physics & Chemistry

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