操纵杆 (cāo zòng gān) — joystick

Definition

noun
joystick
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 操纵杆。
    Zhè ge cāo zòng gān hěn hǎo yòng.
    This joystick is very easy to use.
  • 操纵杆。
    Tā yòng cāo zòng gān kòng zhì yóu xì lǐ de fēi jī.
    He uses a joystick to control the plane in the game.
  • 操纵杆。
    Wǒ mǎi le yí gè xīn de cāo zòng gān lái wán yóu xì.
    I bought a new joystick to play games.

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.

操纵control
操cāohandle纵zòngmanage
联合Coordinate
杆gānstick

In 操纵杆, 操纵 names what the 杆 is: a stick for controlling.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
喿
喿zào操cāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 手 shows a hand, indicating an action done by hand. The right part 喿 gives the sound.

Open 操 →

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 縱; 纵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
從
從cóng縱zòng
Same sound today

The traditional form 縱 pairs the 糸 part with 從 as a sound part; the simplified 纵 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical sound part.

Open 纵 →

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
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
干
干gān杆gǎn
Same sound today

杆 pairs 木 (tree) with 干, which gives the sound. The 木 part shows the thing is made of wood.

Open 杆 →

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