电阻 (diàn zǔ) — electric resistance (the property of a material to oppose the flow of electric current)

Definition

Technical term for 'electric resistance' — the property of a material that opposes current flow, measured in ohms (欧姆). Distinguish from 电阻器, the physical component (resistor) that provides a specific resistance value.

noun
electric resistance (the property of a material to oppose the flow of electric current)

Examples

  • 电阻，。
    Tóng de diàn zǔ hěn xiǎo, suǒ yǐ cháng yòng lái zuò diàn xiàn.
    Copper has very low electric resistance, so it is often used to make electrical wires.
  • 电阻，。
    Zhè ge diàn lù zhōng de diàn zǔ tài dà le, diàn liú guò bú qù.
    The resistance in this circuit is too high; the current cannot pass through.
  • 电阻。
    Cè liáng diàn zǔ xū yào yòng dào wàn yòng biǎo.
    Measuring resistance requires a multimeter.

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diànelectric current
阻zǔresist

电 (electric current) and 阻 (resist) name the property that opposes current.

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
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě阻zǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

阻 is built from 阝 (written in full as 阜) on the left and 且 on the right, which gives the sound.

Open 阻 →

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