电磁辐射 (diàn cí fú shè) — electromagnetic radiation

Definition

A physics term for electromagnetic radiation (e.g., from phones, microwaves, sunlight) — energy that travels as waves through space.

noun
electromagnetic radiation

Examples

  • 电磁辐射？
    Shǒu jī chǎn shēng de diàn cí fú shè duì rén tǐ yǒu méi yǒu wēi hài?
    Is the electromagnetic radiation produced by cell phones harmful to the human body?
  • 电磁辐射。
    Wēi bō lú gōng zuò shí huì chǎn shēng diàn cí fú shè.
    Microwave ovens generate electromagnetic radiation when operating.
  • 电磁辐射。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū diàn cí fú shè duì huán jìng de yǐng xiǎng.
    Scientists are researching the impact of electromagnetic radiation on the environment.

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.

电磁electromagnetic
电diànelectricity磁címagnetism
联合Side by side
辐射radiation
辐fúspoke射shèshoot
偏正Modifier + head

电磁 joins electricity and magnetism, while 辐射 spreads outward like spokes; together they name electromagnetic radiation.

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
石石shírock; stone
Sound part声符shēngfú
兹
兹zī磁cí
Same sound today

磁 is built from 石, meaning rock or stone, and 兹, which gives the sound.

Open 磁 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 辐 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 射, the left part comes from 弓 (bow) and 矢 (arrow), and the right part comes from a hand drawing the bowstring.

Open 射 →

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