洒水机 (sǎ shuǐ jī) — sprinkler (device that sprays water) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

sprinkler (device that sprays water)

Measure word · 台

Examples

洒水机。
Huā yuán lǐ de sǎ shuǐ jī zhèng zài zì dòng jiāo shuǐ.
The sprinkler in the garden is watering automatically.
洒水机。
Xiāo fáng yuán yòng sǎ shuǐ jī pū miè le huǒ zāi.
The firefighters put out the fire with a sprinkler.
洒水机。
Zhè tái sǎ shuǐ jī kě yǐ tiáo jié pēn shuǐ de fàn wéi.
This sprinkler can adjust the range of water spray.

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.

洒水spray water

洒sǎspray水shuǐwater

动宾Verb + object

机jīmachine

洒水 'spray water' + 机 'machine' names a device that sprinkles water.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

西

西xī洒sǎ

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

洒 combines 水, the water part, with 西, which gives the sound.

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

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

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

木几机

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree; wood

Sound part声符shēngfú

几

几jǐ机jī

Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

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