棘轮 (jí lún) — ratchet; ratchet wheel

Definition

noun
ratchetratchet wheel

Examples

  • 棘轮。
    Zhè ge jí lún de jié gòu fēi cháng jīng miào.
    The structure of this ratchet is very intricate.
  • 棘轮。
    Jī xiè gōng chéng shī zhèng zài xiū lǐ jí lún.
    The mechanical engineer is repairing the ratchet.
  • 棘轮。
    Tā shè jì le yí gè xīn jí lún lái tí gāo xiào lǜ.
    He designed a new ratchet to improve efficiency.

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.

棘jíthorn
轮lúnwheel

棘 gives the thorn-like teeth and 轮 the wheel.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 棘 →

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 輪; 轮 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
侖
侖lún輪lún
Same sound today

The traditional form 輪 uses 車, a carriage, and 侖 for the sound; the simplified 轮 is a later shorthand.

Open 轮 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.