电源线 (diàn yuán xiàn) — power cable, power cord (of an appliance or electronic device)

Definition

noun
power cablepower cord (of an appliance or electronic device)
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 电源线，。
    Zhè gēn diàn yuán xiàn tài duǎn le, gòu bú dào chā zuò.
    This power cable is too short to reach the outlet.
  • 电源线，。
    Diàn nǎo de diàn yuán xiàn huài le, xū yào huàn yì gēn xīn de.
    The computer's power cord is broken and needs to be replaced with a new one.
  • 电源线。
    Qǐng bǎ diàn yuán xiàn cóng chā zuò shàng bá xià lái.
    Please unplug the power cable from the outlet.

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.

电源power source
电diànelectricity源yuánsource
偏正Modifier + head
线xiànwire

电源 power source and 线 wire combine for a power cable.

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
原
原yuán源yuán
Same sound today

源 combines 水 (water) and 原 (origin): 水 points to water, and 原 gives the sound.

Open 源 →

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
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.

Open 线 →

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