空防 (kōng fáng) — air defense

Definition

noun
air defense

Examples

  • 空防。
    Zhè ge guó jiā jiā qiáng le kōng fáng xì tǒng.
    This country has strengthened its air defense system.
  • 空防。
    Xīn de kōng fáng jì shù zhèng zài yán fā zhōng.
    New air defense technology is under development.
  • 空防。
    Tā shì yì míng kōng fáng zhuān jiā.
    He is an air defense expert.

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.

空kōngair
防fángdefense

空 (air) plus 防 (defense) gives defense against air attacks.

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
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
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng防fáng
Same sound today

防 pairs 阝 (written fully as 阜) with 方, which gives the sound.

Open 防 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.