红外 (hóng wài) — infrared (radiation, light, or technology)

Definition

noun

infrared (radiation, light, or technology)

红外。
Zhè zhǒng hóng wài chuán gǎn qì kě yǐ jiǎn cè wēn dù biàn huà.
This type of infrared sensor can detect temperature changes.
红外。
hóng wài Wàng yuǎn jìng néng guān chá dào héng xīng de wēn dù fēn bù.
An infrared telescope can observe the temperature distribution of stars.
红外。
Yī xué shàng cháng yòng hóng wài zhào shè lái huǎn jiě jī ròu téng tòng.
In medicine, infrared irradiation is often used to relieve muscle pain.

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.

The senses 红 and 外 together point to the range beyond red.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 紅; 红 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìsilk

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 紅 puts 糸 (silk) next to 工, which gives the sound; the simplified 红 is a later shorthand.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

月

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

外 pairs 卜 with 月, a crescent moon; in its older form, the 卜 part had a horizontal bar extending outward, giving the sense of outside.

Appears in