松果腺 (sōng guǒ xiàn) — pineal gland

Definition

noun
pineal gland

Examples

  • 松果腺。
    sōng guǒ xiàn Wèi yú dà nǎo shēn chù.
    The pineal gland is located deep in the brain.
  • 松果腺。
    sōng guǒ xiàn Fēn mì tuì hēi sù.
    The pineal gland secretes melatonin.
  • 松果腺。
    sōng guǒ xiàn De gōng néng yǔ shuì mián yǒu guān.
    The function of the pineal gland is related to sleep.

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.

松果pine cone
松sōngpine果guǒfruit
偏正Modifier + head
腺xiàngland

松果 means pine fruit or cone, and 腺 means gland, so the word names the pineal gland.

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
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng松sōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

松 uses 木 (wood) to show it is a tree, and 公 to give the sound.

Open 松 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

果 originally drew fruits hanging on a tree.

Open 果 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 腺 →

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