磁 (cí) — (bound form) magnetism; magnetic
Definition
Cí is a bound morpheme meaning 'magnetic', used almost entirely in scientific/technical compounds like 磁场 (magnetic field) and 磁卡 (magnetic card). Don't use it as a standalone word.
bound form
magnetismmagnetic
Examples
- 。Zhè kuài cí tiě xī zhù le hěn duō dīng zi.This magnet attracted a lot of nails.
- 。Dì qiú de cí chǎng bǎo hù wǒ men miǎn shòu tài yáng fēng de shāng hài.Earth's magnetic field protects us from solar wind.
- 。Yòng cí kǎ shuā yí xià jiù néng kāi mén.You can open the door by swiping a magnetic card.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
磁 is built from 石, meaning rock or stone, and 兹, which gives the sound.
Appears in
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