棉纤维 (mián xiān wéi) — cotton fiber | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

cotton fiber

Measure word · 种

Examples

棉纤维。
Zhè zhǒng mián xiān wéi de zhì dì hěn róu ruǎn.
This kind of cotton fiber is very soft.
棉纤维。
mián xiān wéi Kě yǐ yòng lái zhì zuò yī fu.
Cotton fiber can be used to make clothes.
棉纤维。
Zhè zhǒng mián xiān wéi bǐ pǔ tōng de gèng nài yòng.
This cotton fiber is more durable than ordinary ones.

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.

纤维fiber

纤xiānfine维wéithread

偏正Modifier + head

“棉” gives cotton and “纤维” fine thread: cotton fibers.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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 纖; 纤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìsilk

Sound part声符shēngfú

韱

韱xiān纖qiàn

Same sound today

The traditional form 纖 uses 糸 for silk and 韱 for the sound; the simplified 纤 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

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 維; 维 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìthread

Sound part声符shēngfú

唯

唯wéi維wéi

Same sound today

In the traditional form 維, 糸 marks a thread meaning and 唯 provides the sound; the simplified 维 is a later shortened shape.

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