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监测 (jiān cè) — to monitor, to keep continuous track of

Definition

监测 is 'to monitor' with instruments or data over time (water quality, weight, seismic activity). 监视 implies a closer, often human-led watch; 观测 is more scientific observation/surveying.

verb
to monitorto keep continuous track of

Examples

  • 监测。
    Huán bǎo bù mén dìng qī jiān cè hé liú de shuǐ zhì.
    The environmental protection department regularly monitors the water quality of rivers.
  • 监测。
    Yī shēng ràng wǒ měi tiān jiān cè zì jǐ de tǐ zhòng biàn huà.
    The doctor told me to monitor my weight changes every day.
  • 监测。
    Dì zhèn jú yòng yí qì jiān cè dì zhì huó dòng.
    The seismic bureau uses instruments to monitor geological activity.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

监jiānwatch
测cèmeasure

监 (watch) and 测 (measure) together mean continuous tracking.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 監; 监 is its simplified writing.

  • 臥臥wòa person with an emphasized eye
  • 皿皿mǐncontainer

The traditional form 監 shows 臥, a person with an emphasized eye, looking into 皿, a container; the simplified 监 is a later shorthand.

Open 监 →

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 測; 测 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
則
則zé測cè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 測 combines 氵 (water) with 則 for the sound; it is explained as measuring the depth of water. The simplified 测 is a later shorthand.

Open 测 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Science (General)

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