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断层 (duàn céng) — (geology) fault; (figurative) gap, discontinuity (in a field, generation, or system)

Definition

At HSK 7, 断层 is used almost entirely in the figurative sense — a serious gap or discontinuity in talent, culture, or generations. The literal geology sense ('fault') is rare in everyday study.

noun
(geology) fault(figurative) gapdiscontinuity (in a field, generation, or system)
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 断层。
    Zhè ge dì qū de dì xià yǒu míng xiǎn de duàn céng.
    There is a clear fault underground in this area.
  • 断层。
    Gōng sī chū xiàn le yán zhòng de rén cái duàn céng.
    The company has a serious talent gap.
  • 断层。
    Rú hé tián bǔ wén huà duàn céng shì yí gè zhòng dà kè tí.
    How to fill a cultural discontinuity is a major issue.

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.

断duànbreak
层cénglayer

断 break and 层 layer combine to mean a broken layer, hence a fault or gap.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Open 断 →

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 層; 层 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
尸尸shī
Sound part声符shēngfú
曾
曾céng層céng
Same sound today

The traditional form 層 uses 尸 for the meaning and 曾 for the sound; the simplified 层 is a later abbreviation.

Open 层 →
Appears in
Geography & Landforms

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