直肠 (zhí cháng) — rectum | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

The rectum — the final section of the large intestine, part of the digestive system. Anatomical/medical term, used in clinical contexts.

noun

rectum

直肠。
Yī shēng gěi tā zuò le zhí cháng jiǎn chá.
The doctor performed a rectal exam on him.
直肠。
zhí cháng Shì xiāo huà xì tǒng de yí bù fen.
The rectum is part of the digestive system.
直肠。
Zhè zhǒng jí bìng huì yǐng xiǎng zhí cháng.
This disease can affect the rectum.

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.

直zhístraight

直 (straight) and 肠 (intestine) form the name of the straight section of the bowel.

Characters in this word

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

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

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 腸; 肠 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

昜

昜yáng腸cháng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 腸 pairs 肉, the body, with 昜, which gives the sound; the simplified 肠 is a later shorthand.

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