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摄像头 (shè xiàng tóu) — webcam; surveillance camera, security camera

Definition

noun
webcamsurveillance camerasecurity camera
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 摄像头，。
    Wǒ de shè xiàng tóu huài le, xū yào huàn yí gè xīn de.
    My webcam is broken, I need to replace it with a new one.
  • 摄像头，。
    Xiǎo qū mén kǒu zhuāng le shè xiàng tóu, gǎn jué ān quán duō le.
    A security camera was installed at the entrance of the housing complex, so it feels much safer.
  • 摄像头。
    Kāi huì shí jì de bǎ shè xiàng tóu dǎ kāi.
    Remember to turn on the webcam during the meeting.

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.

摄像capture image
摄shècapture像xiàngimage
动宾Verb + object
头tóudevice part

摄像 ('capture an image') describes the 头, the device part that performs that function.

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 攝; 摄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
聶
聶niè攝shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 攝 combines 扌 (hand) with 聶 as a sound part; the simplified 摄 is a later shorthand.

Open 摄 →

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
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
象
象xiàng像
Same sound today

像 uses 亻, the side form of 人 (person), with 象 giving the sound.

Open 像 →

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 頭; 头 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu頭tóu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 頭 shows 頁, meaning head, beside 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 头 is a later shorthand.

Open 头 →
Appears in
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