沟槽 (gōu cáo) — groove, channel, slot | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

groovechannelslot

Measure word · 个

沟槽。
Zhè tiáo gōu cáo hěn shēn.
This groove is very deep.
沟槽。
Jī qì shàng de gōu cáo xū yào qīng xǐ.
The groove on the machine needs cleaning.
沟槽。
Tā yán zhe qiáng bì de gōu cáo ān zhuāng le diàn xiàn.
He installed the wires along the groove in the wall.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

沟 and 槽 are parallel channel-like shapes, so the word means a groove.

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 溝; 沟 is its simplified writing.

氵冓溝

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

冓

冓gòu溝gōu

Same sound today

The traditional form 溝 pairs 氵 (water) with 冓 for the sound; the simplified 沟 is a later shorthand, so its right side is not the historical part.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

木曹槽

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

曹

Same sound today

槽 uses 木 (wood) for the meaning and 曹 for the sound, showing a wooden trough or vat.