气动 (qì dòng) — pneumatic, air-powered

Definition

Technical term for 'pneumatic' — describes machines or tools powered by compressed air, common in engineering and factory contexts.

adjective

pneumaticair-powered

气动。
Zhè xiē qì dòng gōng jù xū yào lián jiē kōng qì yā suō jī.
These pneumatic tools need to be connected to an air compressor.
气动。
Gōng chǎng de qì dòng xì tǒng fēi cháng gāo xiào.
The factory's pneumatic system is very efficient.
气动。
Tā men zhèng zài ān zhuāng xīn de qì dòng shè bèi.
They are installing new pneumatic equipment.

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.

气qìair/gas

动dòngmotion/power

气 names air or gas, 动 names motion or power, together meaning driven by air.

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

气米氣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

气

Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

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.