感化院 (gǎn huà yuàn) — reformatory; juvenile detention center

Definition

noun

reformatoryjuvenile detention center

Measure word · 所

感化院。
Tā yīn wèi tōu qiè bèi sòng jìn le gǎn huà yuàn.
He was sent to a reformatory for theft.
感化院。
Zhè ge gǎn huà yuàn zhuān mén shōu róng wéi fǎ shào nián.
This reformatory specifically houses juvenile offenders.
感化院，。
Cóng gǎn huà yuàn chū lái yǐ hòu, tā chóng xīn kāi shǐ le shēng huó.
After coming out of the reformatory, he started his life anew.

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.

感化reform by influence

补充Verb + complement

院yuàninstitution

感化 means to move someone into change, and 院 is an institution; the word names a place for reforming people.

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.

咸心感

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

咸

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

感 pairs 咸, which gives the sound, with 心, the heart, for feeling.

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

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

阝完院

Meaning part形符xíngfú

阝Written in full as阜fù

Sound part声符shēngfú

完

完wán院yuàn

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

院 is built from 阝, written in full as 阜, and 完, which gives the sound.