横截面 (héng jié miàn) — cross section

Definition

A technical noun meaning the flat surface revealed by slicing something straight across. Used in science and engineering, often paired with 图 ('cross-sectional diagram').

noun
cross section

Examples

  • 横截面。
    Kē xué jiā yán jiū le zhí wù de héng jié miàn.
    Scientists studied the cross section of the plant.
  • 横截面。
    Zhè zhāng tú xiǎn shì le cái liào de héng jié miàn.
    This picture shows the cross section of the material.
  • 横截面。
    Wǒ men xū yào huà yí gè héng jié miàn tú.
    We need to draw a cross-sectional diagram.

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.

横hénghorizontal
截面cut surface
截jiécut面miànsurface
偏正Modifier + head

横 gives horizontal, 截 gives cut, and 面 gives surface; together it names a horizontal cut surface.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 橫; 横 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
黃
黃huáng橫héng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 橫 has 木, meaning wood, beside 黃, which supplies the sound; the simplified 横 is a later abbreviation.

Open 横 →

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
戈戈gē
Sound part声符shēngfú
雀
雀què截jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

截 combines 戈 and 雀, with 雀 supplying the sound.

Open 截 →

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

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

Open 面 →

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