磁石 (cí shí) — lodestone, magnetite (naturally magnetic minera… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

lodestonemagnetite (naturally magnetic mineral)

Measure word · 块

Examples

磁石。
Zhè zhǒng cí shí zài gǔ dài jiù bèi yòng lái zhì zào zhǐ nán zhēn.
This kind of lodestone was used to make compasses in ancient times.
磁石。
Kē xué jiā fā xiàn le yí kuài jù dà de tiān rán cí shí.
Scientists discovered a huge piece of natural lodestone.
磁石。
Zhè kuài cí shí de cí xìng hěn qiáng.
This piece of magnetite has very strong magnetism.

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.

磁címagnetic

“磁” (magnetic) and “石” (stone) combine to mean a naturally magnetic stone.

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.

石兹磁

Meaning part形符xíngfú

石石shírock; stone

Sound part声符shēngfú

兹

兹zī磁cí

Same sound today

磁 is built from 石, meaning rock or stone, and 兹, which gives the sound.

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.

Appears in

Materials & Substances

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