洗印 (xǐ yìn) — to develop and print (film)

Definition

verb
to develop and print (film)

Examples

  • 洗印。
    Zhè jiā diàn kě yǐ xǐ yìn zhào piàn.
    This shop can develop and print photos.
  • ,洗印。
    Tā yǐ qián zài zhào xiàng guǎn gōng zuò, fù zé xǐ yìn jiāo juǎn.
    He used to work at a photo studio, responsible for developing and printing film.
  • ,洗印。
    Shù mǎ xiàng jī pǔ jí hòu, xǐ yìn háng yè zhú jiàn mò luò le.
    After digital cameras became popular, the film developing and printing industry gradually declined.

Origin

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.

洗xǐdevelop/wash
印yìnprint

洗 'develop/wash' + 印 'print' names the two steps of processing film.

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

洗 is built from 水 (water) and 先, which gives the character its sound.

Open 洗 →

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

  • 爪爪zhuǎhand
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

印 pairs 爪 (hand) with 卩 (kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on a kneeling person.

Open 印 →

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