星系 (xīng xì) — galaxy | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

星系 is a huge system of stars, gas, and dust — one 'galaxy'. It is much larger than 星星, which is a single visible star in the night sky.

noun

galaxy

Measure word · 个

Examples

星系。
Kē xué jiā yòng wàng yuǎn jìng guān chá yáo yuǎn de xīng xì.
Scientists observe distant galaxies with telescopes.
星系。
Wǒ men de xīng xì jiào yín hé xì.
Our galaxy is called the Milky Way.
星系。
Yǔ zhòu zhōng yǒu shǔ bù qīng de xīng xì.
There are countless galaxies in the universe.

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.

系xìsystem

星 refers to stars, and 系 is a system, so the word means a system of stars.

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.

晶晶jīngtwinkling stars
生生shēng

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

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

手手shǒu
糸糸mì

系 is made by putting together 手 (hand) and 糸 (silk).

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Sky & Space

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