石墨 (shí mò) — graphite | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

graphite

石墨。
Qiān bǐ xīn de zhǔ yào chéng fèn shì shí mò.
The main component of pencil lead is graphite.
石墨，。
Zhè zhǒng shí mò de chún dù hěn gāo, shì hé zuò diàn chí.
This type of graphite has high purity and is suitable for making batteries.
石墨。
Gōng yè shàng cháng yòng shí mò zuò wéi rùn huá jì.
In industry, graphite is often used as a lubricant.

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.

石 gives stone and 墨 gives ink, naming a black stone-like substance used for writing.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 石 shows a stone under a cliff-like overhang, or a cave set into a cliff side.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

黑土墨

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔsoil

Sound part声符shēngfú

黑

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

墨 is built from 土 (soil) and 黑, with 黑 giving the sound.