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电线杆 (diàn xiàn gǎn) — utility pole (for electric wires)

Definition

noun
utility pole (for electric wires)
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 电线杆。
    Lù biān yǒu hěn duō diàn xiàn gǎn.
    There are many utility poles by the road.
  • 电线杆。
    Xiǎo niǎo zhàn zài diàn xiàn gǎn shàng chàng gē.
    A little bird is singing on the utility pole.
  • 电线杆。
    Gōng rén zhèng zài xiū diàn xiàn gǎn.
    The worker is repairing the utility pole.

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.

电线electric wire
电diànelectric线xiànwire
偏正Modifier + head
杆gānpole

“电线” is electric wire and “杆” is pole, together a pole for electric wires.

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.

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 →

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
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
干
干gān杆gǎn
Same sound today

杆 pairs 木 (tree) with 干, which gives the sound. The 木 part shows the thing is made of wood.

Open 杆 →
Appears in
Buildings & StructuresEnergy & Power

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