正极 (zhèng jí) — positive electrode or pole in an electrical device; anode

Definition

Technical term for the 'positive electrode / pole' of a battery or circuit — contrast with 负极 (negative pole). In a galvanic cell it is the cathode; in an electrolytic cell it is the anode.

noun
positive electrode or pole in an electrical deviceanode

Examples

  • 正极。
    Diàn chí de zhèng jí shì tū qǐ de bù fen.
    The positive pole of a battery is the protruding part.
  • ，正极。
    Zài diàn jiě guò chéng zhōng, yáng lí zǐ xiàng zhèng jí yí dòng.
    During electrolysis, cations move toward the positive electrode.
  • 正极。
    Tài yáng néng bǎn de zhèng jí lián jiē zhe diàn lù de zhèng jí.
    The positive terminal of the solar panel is connected to the circuit's positive pole.

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.

正zhèngpositive
极jípole

正 means positive and 极 means pole, naming the positive pole of an electrical device.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng正zhèng
Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Open 正 →

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
木木mùtree, wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí极jí
Same sound today

极 pairs 木 (tree, wood) with 及, which provides the sound.

Open 极 →

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