环线 (huán xiàn) — circular route; loop line (e.g., subway or bus)

Definition

Refers to a circular transit line (subway, bus) or a ring road. Often used in city contexts like 地铁环线 or 三环/四环 (ring roads).

noun

circular routeloop line (e.g., subway or bus)

Measure word · 条

环线。
Zhè tiáo dì tiě huán xiàn quán cháng sān shí gōng lǐ.
This subway loop line is 30 kilometers in total length.
环线，。
Zuò huán xiàn bǐ zhí xiàn gèng kuài, yīn wèi rào guò le shì zhōng xīn.
Taking the circular route is faster than the direct line because it bypasses the city center.
环线。
Wǒ men zhù zài sì huán xiàn nèi huán fù jìn.
We live near the inner ring of the Fourth Ring Road.

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.

环 gives loop and 线 line, so 环线 names a circular route.

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 環; 环 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

睘

睘qióng環huán

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

The traditional form 環 pairs 玉 (jade) with a sound part; the simplified 环 is a shorthand and its right side is not the historical sound part.

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

糹泉線

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糹Written in full as糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

泉

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

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.