真空管 (zhēn kōng guǎn) — vacuum tube (old-style electronic component, also called a thermionic valve)

Definition

noun
vacuum tube (old-style electronic component, also called a thermionic valve)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 真空管。
    Zhè tái lǎo shōu yīn jī lǐ hái yǒu zhēn kōng guǎn.
    There are still vacuum tubes in this old radio.
  • 真空管。
    zhēn kōng guǎn Zài zǎo qī jì suàn jī zhōng fēi cháng zhòng yào.
    Vacuum tubes were very important in early computers.
  • 真空管。
    Xiàn dài de diàn qì yǐ jīng bú yòng zhēn kōng guǎn le.
    Modern electronic devices no longer use vacuum tubes.

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.

真空vacuum
真zhēntrue空kōngempty
偏正Modifier + head
管guǎntube

真空 describes a space that is truly empty, and 管 names the tube-like component.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

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
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
官
官guān管guǎn
Same sound today

管 has 竹 (bamboo) on top to show it relates to bamboo, and 官 gives its sound.

Open 管 →

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