电子战 (diàn zǐ zhàn) — electronic warfare

Definition

noun

electronic warfare

，电子战。
Xiàn dài zhàn zhēng zhōng, diàn zǐ zhàn fā huī zhe yuè lái yuè zhòng yào de zuò yòng.
Electronic warfare plays an increasingly important role in modern warfare.
电子战。
Tā men zhèng zài yán jiū rú hé tí gāo diàn zǐ zhàn de néng lì.
They are researching how to improve electronic warfare capabilities.
电子战。
Zhè cì yǎn xí zhǔ yào cè shì le diàn zǐ zhàn xì tǒng de xìng néng.
This exercise mainly tested the performance of the electronic warfare system.

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.

电子electron/electronic

后缀Suffix

电子 electron/electronic and 战 war combine for electronic warfare.

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 電; 电 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

雨雨yǔrain

Sound part声符shēngfú

申

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

For the traditional form 電, 雨 (rain) sits with 申, read shēn and meaning lightning.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

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

占戈战

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

占

Same sound today

战 pairs 占, which gives its sound, with 戈, a weapon.