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电磁 (diàn cí) — electromagnetism (the physical phenomenon); (attributive) electromagnetic

Definition

The scientific term for 'electromagnetism' — refers to the physical phenomenon and, attributively, to things related to it (e.g. 电磁波 'electromagnetic waves'). Used in technical and academic contexts.

noun
electromagnetism (the physical phenomenon)(attributive) electromagnetic

Examples

  • 电磁。
    diàn cí Shì yì zhǒng wù lǐ xiàn xiàng.
    Electromagnetism is a physical phenomenon.
  • 。
    diàn cí Bō kě yǐ chuán dì xìn xī.
    Electromagnetic waves can transmit information.
  • 。
    diàn cí Chǎng duì shēng wù yǒu yǐng xiǎng.
    Electromagnetic fields have an effect on living things.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

电diànelectricity
磁címagnetism

电 means electricity and 磁 means magnetism; together they refer to electromagnetic phenomena.

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 →
Appears in
Physics & Chemistry

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