烧杯 (shāo bēi) — beaker (chemistry) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

beaker (chemistry)

Measure word · 个

Easily confused

烧坏shāo huàilook-aliketo damage or ruin by burning, to burn out (of food, appliances, circuits, etc.)

Examples

烧杯？
Zhè ge shāo bēi néng zhuāng duō shǎo háo shēng yè tǐ?
How many milliliters of liquid can this beaker hold?
，烧杯。
Shí yàn jié shù hòu, yào bǎ shāo bēi qīng xǐ gān jìng.
After the experiment, be sure to clean the beaker thoroughly.
烧杯。
Tā yòng shāo bēi jiā rè le yì xiē róng yè.
He heated some solution using a beaker.

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.

烧杯 names a cup used for heating substances, from 烧 'burn' and 杯 'cup'.

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 燒; 烧 is its simplified writing.

火堯燒

Meaning part形符xíngfú

火火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

堯

堯yáo燒shāo

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

The traditional form 燒 pairs 火 (fire) with 堯, which supplies the sound; the simplified 烧 is a shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

木不杯

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

不

不bù杯bēi

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

杯 is built from 木, meaning wood, and 不, which gives the sound.

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