海陆空 (hǎi lù kōng) — sea, land, and air; the three domains (used for military, transport, etc.)

Definition

Refers collectively to the three domains — sea, land, and air — typically in military or transport contexts. Often used as a modifier, as in 海陆空运输 or 海陆空三军, rather than as a standalone noun.

noun
sealandand airthe three domains (used for military, transport, etc.)

Examples

  • 海陆空。
    Zhè cì yǎn xí chū dòng le hǎi lù kōng sān jūn.
    This exercise deployed all three armed forces — sea, land, and air.
  • 海陆空。
    Tā men gōng sī tí gōng hǎi lù kōng yùn shū fú wù.
    Their company provides sea-land-air transport services.
  • 海陆空。
    hǎi lù kōng Lǚ yóu xiàn lù hěn shòu huān yíng.
    The sea-land-air tour route is very popular.

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.

海hǎisea
陆lùland
空kōngair

海, 陆 and 空 stand for sea, land and air, joined as three equal domains.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
每
每měi海hǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.

Open 海 →

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 陸; 陆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
坴
坴lù陸lù
Same sound today

The traditional form 陸 uses 阝 (written in full as 阜) for the meaning and 坴 for the sound; the simplified 陆 is a later shorthand.

Open 陆 →

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
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

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