瓣膜 (bàn mó) — valve (in the body, e.g., heart valve)

Definition

noun

valve (in the body, e.g., heart valve)

Measure word · 个

瓣膜。
Xīn zàng de bàn mó fēi cháng zhòng yào.
The heart's valves are very important.
瓣膜。
Yī shēng jiǎn chá le tā de xīn zàng bàn mó.
The doctor examined his heart valves.
瓣膜。
Zhè zhǒng bàn mó jí bìng xū yào shǒu shù zhì liáo.
This kind of valve disease requires surgery.

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.

膜mómembrane

瓣 flap and 膜 membrane mean a flap-like membrane that controls flow.

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

瓜瓜guāmelon

Sound part声符shēngfú

辡

辡biàn瓣bàn(r)

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

In 瓣, 瓜 is a melon and 辡 gives the sound; the note describes it as melon seeds.

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

⺼Written in full as肉ròu

Sound part声符shēngfú

莫

Same sound today

膜 combines ⺼ (written in full as 肉) with 莫, which gives the character its sound.