核动力 (hé dòng lì) — nuclear power; nuclear propulsion

Definition

noun

nuclear powernuclear propulsion

核动力。
Zhè zhǒng hé dòng lì qián tǐng kě yǐ lián xù háng xíng shù nián.
This type of nuclear-powered submarine can sail continuously for years.
核动力，。
hé dòng lì Shì yì zhǒng gāo xiào de néng yuán, dàn duì ān quán yāo qiú hěn gāo.
Nuclear power is an efficient energy source, but it has very high safety requirements.
核动力。
Tā men zhèng zài yán jiū xīn xíng hé dòng lì fā dòng jī.
They are researching a new type of nuclear-powered engine.

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.

核hénuclear

动力motive force

偏正Modifier + head

核 marks the nuclear source, and 动力 denotes moving force, giving power from nuclear reaction.

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.

木亥核

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree

Sound part声符shēngfú

亥

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

核 pairs 木, a tree, with 亥 to give its sound; it originally named a kind of tree, and its later meanings are borrowed.

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

重力動

Meaning part形符xíngfú

力力lìstrength

Sound part声符shēngfú

重

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

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

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

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.