潜望镜 (qián wàng jìng) — periscope | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

periscope

Measure word · 个

Examples

潜望镜。
Qián tǐng shàng cháng yòng qián wàng jìng guān chá shuǐ miàn qíng kuàng.
Submarines often use periscopes to observe surface conditions.
潜望镜。
Zhè ge wán jù qián wàng jìng gēn zhēn de yí yàng.
This toy periscope looks just like a real one.
潜望镜。
Kē xué jiā yòng qián wàng jìng lái guān chá shēn hǎi shēng wù.
Scientists use periscopes to observe deep-sea creatures.

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.

潜望look while hidden

潜qiánhidden/submerged望wànglook

偏正Modifier + head

镜jìngglass/mirror

潜 (hidden) and 望 (look) with 镜 (glass) name an instrument for looking while submerged.

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 潛; 潜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

水水shuǐ

Sound part声符shēngfú

朁

朁cǎn潛qián

Same sound today

The form 潛 has 水 as a meaning part and 朁 as a sound part; this note is about 潛, not the simplified 潜.

Open 潜 →

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

臣臣chéneye
𡈼𡈼𡈼person standing on the ground

望 originally showed 臣 (eye) beside 𡈼 (person standing on the ground): a person standing up and looking off into the distance. Later 月 was added, and the 臣 part became 亡.

Open 望 →

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 鏡; 镜 is its simplified writing.

金竟鏡

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

竟

竟jìng鏡jìng

Same sound today

The traditional form 鏡 puts 金, metal, next to 竟 to give the sound. The simplified 镜 is a later shorthand.

Open 镜 →