打字机 (dǎ zì jī) — typewriter | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

typewriter

Measure word · 台

Examples

打字机，。
Zhè tái dǎ zì jī shì wǔ shí nián qián mǎi de, hái néng yòng.
This typewriter was bought fifty years ago and still works.
打字机。
Tā shōu cáng le hěn duō lǎo dǎ zì jī.
He collects many old typewriters.
打字机。
Yòng dǎ zì jī dǎ chū lái de wén zhāng yǒu yì zhǒng tè bié de zhì gǎn.
Articles typed on a typewriter have a special texture.

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.

打字type

打dǎhit字zìcharacter

动宾Verb + object

机jīmachine

“打” and “字” make the action of typing, and “机” names the machine that does it.

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.

扌丁打

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒuhand

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

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

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

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

宀子字

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

子

子zǐ字zì

Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

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

木几机

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree; wood

Sound part声符shēngfú

几

几jǐ机jī

Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Appears in

Miscellaneous Objects

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.