染色剂 (rǎn sè jì) — coloring agent; dye

Definition

noun

coloring agentdye

染色剂。
Zhè zhǒng rǎn sè jì kě yǐ yòng yú bù liào rǎn sè.
This coloring agent can be used for dyeing fabric.
染色剂。
Shí yàn shì lǐ xū yào yòng dào duō zhǒng rǎn sè jì.
Multiple coloring agents are needed in the lab.
染色剂，。
Zhè zhǒng rǎn sè jì duì rén tǐ wú hài, kě yǐ yòng yú shí pǐn.
This coloring agent is harmless to humans and can be used in food.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

染色dye color

动宾Verb + object

染色 colors something, and 剂 denotes a preparation, so it names a coloring agent.

Characters in this word

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

氵九木染

染 combines 氵 (water), 九 (hook), and 木 (tree): something hung on a hook from a tree into water to dye it.

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

色 pairs 爪 (a hand) with 卩 (a kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on the kneeling person.

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 劑; 剂 is its simplified writing.

齊刂劑

Meaning part形符xíngfú

刂Written in full as刀dāo

Sound part声符shēngfú

齊

齊qí劑jì

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 劑, 齊 gives the sound and 刂 (刀, a knife) shows the meaning. The simplified 剂 is a later shorthand.