水系 (shuǐ xì) — river system, drainage network

Definition

noun
river systemdrainage network

Examples

  • 水系。
    Zhōng guó de shuǐ xì fēi cháng fù zá.
    China's river system is very complex.
  • 水系。
    Zhè ge shuǐ xì fù gài miàn jī hěn dà.
    This drainage network covers a large area.
  • 水系。
    Dì lǐ xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū zhè tiáo hé liú de shuǐ xì.
    Geographers are studying the river system of this river.

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.

水shuǐwater
系xìsystem

水 refers to water, and 系 gives the connected system of rivers.

Characters in this word

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

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

Open 水 →

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

系 is made by putting together 手 (hand) and 糸 (silk).

Open 系 →

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