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添加剂 (tiān jiā jì) — additive, food additive

Definition

noun
additivefood additive
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 添加剂。
    Zhè zhǒng yǐn liào bù hán rén gōng tiān jiā jì.
    This drink contains no artificial additives.
  • 添加剂。
    Guò liàng shè rù tiān jiā jì kě néng yǐn qǐ guò mǐn fǎn yìng.
    Excessive intake of additives may cause allergic reactions.
  • 添加剂。
    Tā men zhèng zài yán jiū yì zhǒng xīn xíng tiān jiā jì.
    They are researching a new type of additive.

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.

添加
添tiānadd加jiāadd
联合Coordinate
剂jìagent

The idea of adding names a substance that is added to something.

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
忝
忝tiǎn添tiān
Same sound today

添 pairs 水 (water) with 忝, which gives its sound; the shape pictures increasing by pouring more water in.

Open 添 →

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

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →

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 劑; 剂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
齊
齊qí劑jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 劑, 齊 gives the sound and 刂 (刀, a knife) shows the meaning. The simplified 剂 is a later shorthand.

Open 剂 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Food (General)

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