激活剂 (jī huó jì) — activator; activating agent

Definition

A technical/scientific noun for a substance that triggers or speeds up a reaction (chemical, enzymatic, or biological). Less common than the everyday verb 激活 ('to activate'); 激活剂 names the agent itself.

noun
activatoractivating agent

Examples

  • 激活剂。
    Zhè zhǒng jī huó jì néng jiā sù huà xué fǎn yìng.
    This activator can accelerate chemical reactions.
  • ，激活剂。
    Zài shēng wù shí yàn zhōng, jī huó jì kě yǐ tí gāo méi de huó xìng.
    In biological experiments, activators can increase the activity of enzymes.
  • 激活剂。
    Kē xué jiā fā xiàn le yì zhǒng xīn xíng jī huó jì.
    Scientists discovered a new type of activator.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

激活activate
激jīstimulate活huóactive
补充Verb + complement
剂jì

激活 means to stimulate into activity, and 剂 is the agent that performs it.

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
敫
敫jiǎo激jī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 激, the 氵 side marks water, and 敫 gives the sound jiǎo; the original sense is water swashing.

Open 激 →

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
𠯑
𠯑𠯑活huó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

活 is built from 氵 (water) and 𠯑, which shows the sound; 𠯑 later changed into 舌.

Open 活 →

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 →

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