电弧 (diàn hú) — electric arc

Definition

noun
electric arc
Measure word · 道

Examples

  • 电弧。
    diàn hú Yòng yú hàn jiē.
    Electric arc is used for welding.
  • 电弧。
    Shǎn diàn shì yì zhǒng zì rán diàn hú.
    Lightning is a type of natural electric arc.
  • 电弧。
    diàn hú De wēn dù fēi cháng gāo.
    The temperature of an electric arc is extremely high.

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.

电diànelectricity
弧húarc

电 electricity and 弧 arc combine for an electric arc.

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
申shēn電diàn
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.

Open 电 →

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
弓弓gōngbow
Sound part声符shēngfú
瓜
瓜guā弧hú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

弧 uses 弓 (bow) to show a wooden bow or a curve like a bow, and 瓜 for the pronunciation.

Open 弧 →

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