测距器 (cè jù qì) — range finder, distance measuring device

Definition

noun
range finderdistance measuring device
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 测距器。
    Zhè ge cè jù qì kě yǐ cè liáng yì bǎi mǐ yǐ nèi de jù lí.
    This range finder can measure distances within 100 meters.
  • ，测距器。
    Dēng shān de shí hou, tā dài le yí gè cè jù qì.
    When climbing mountains, he brought a range finder.
  • 测距器。
    Xīn mǎi de cè jù qì hěn zhǔn què.
    The newly bought range finder is very accurate.

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.

测距measure distance
测cèmeasure距jùdistance
动宾Verb + object
器qìdevice

A device that measures distance is a range finder.

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 測; 测 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
則
則zé測cè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 測 combines 氵 (water) with 則 for the sound; it is explained as measuring the depth of water. The simplified 测 is a later shorthand.

Open 测 →

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
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
巨
巨jù距jù
Same sound today

距 puts 足, meaning foot, beside 巨, which gives its sound.

Open 距 →

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

The origin of 器 is uncertain; one traditional account reads the whole shape as a scene of guarding over four vessels.

Open 器 →

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