沸点 (fèi diǎn) — boiling point | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

boiling point

沸点。
Shuǐ de fèi diǎn shì yì bǎi shè shì dù.
The boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius.
沸点。
Bù tóng yè tǐ de fèi diǎn bù yí yàng.
Different liquids have different boiling points.
沸点，。
Dào le fèi diǎn, shuǐ jiù huì biàn chéng shuǐ zhēng qì.
When it reaches the boiling point, water turns into steam.

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.

沸 meaning boil and 点 meaning point name the temperature at which boiling occurs.

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.

氵弗沸

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

弗

弗fú沸fèi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

沸 pairs 氵, the water part, with 弗, which gives it its sound.

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 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

黑占點

Meaning part形符xíngfú

黑黑hēiblack

Sound part声符shēngfú

占

占zhàn點diǎn(r)

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.