承重梁 (chéng zhòng liáng) — load-bearing beam

Definition

A structural beam in a building that bears the weight of the structure above it. Removing or altering it is dangerous, unlike non-load-bearing walls.

noun
load-bearing beam
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 承重梁。
    Zhè gēn chéng zhòng liáng bù néng chāi.
    This load-bearing beam cannot be removed.
  • 承重梁。
    Shī fu zhèng zài jiǎn chá chéng zhòng liáng.
    The worker is inspecting the load-bearing beam.
  • 承重梁。
    chéng zhòng liáng Bì xū yòng hùn níng tǔ jiāo guàn.
    The load-bearing beam must be poured with concrete.

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.

承重bear load
承chéngbear重zhòngload
动宾Verb + object
梁liángbeam

承 means bear and 重 means load; 梁 means beam, so the whole names a load-bearing beam.

Characters in this word

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

  • 卩卩jiékneeling person
  • 廾廾gǒngboth hands

承 combines 卩, a kneeling person, and 廾, both hands, to show holding or carrying.

Open 承 →

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
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
東
東dōng重zhòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

重 developed from a picture of a man carrying a bag, with 人 for the man and 東 for the bag; a later ground element was folded into the form.

Open 重 →

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
水水shuǐwater
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
刅
刅chuāng梁Liáng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

梁 pairs 水 (water) and 木 (wood) to show a bridge, with 刅 giving the sound.

Open 梁 →

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