气压计 (qì yā jì) — barometer

Definition

noun
barometer
Measure word · 台

Examples

  • 气压计。
    Qì xiàng zhàn yòng qì yā jì lái cè liáng qì yā.
    Weather stations use barometers to measure air pressure.
  • 气压计。
    Zhè ge qì yā jì xiǎn shì qì yā zhèng zài xià jiàng.
    This barometer shows that the air pressure is dropping.
  • 气压计。
    Dēng shān zhě dài qì yā jì yù cè tiān qì.
    Mountain climbers carry a barometer to predict the weather.

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.

气压air pressure
气qìair压yāpressure
偏正Modifier + head
计jìmeter

气压 (air pressure) and 计 (meter) name a device that measures air pressure.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

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

Open 气 →

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 壓; 压 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔdust
Sound part声符shēngfú
厭
厭yàn壓yā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 壓 is built from 土, dust, and 厭, which gives the sound; 压 is the simplified form of 壓.

Open 压 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 計; 计 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 計 pairs 言 (say) with 十 (all). The simplified 计 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical shape.

Open 计 →

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