线路图 (xiàn lù tú) — route map; line map (e.g., subway map, bus route map); circuit diagram

Definition

线路图 is a compound meaning 'line/route map' — used for transit (subway, bus) maps. The 'circuit diagram' sense is more technical; in electrical contexts 电路图 is also common.

noun
route mapline map (e.g., subway map, bus route map)circuit diagram
Measure word · 张

Examples

  • 线路图。
    Qǐng gěi wǒ yì zhāng dì tiě xiàn lù tú.
    Please give me a subway route map.
  • 线路图。
    Diàn gōng zhèng zài kàn zhè ge xiàn lù tú.
    The electrician is looking at this circuit diagram.
  • 线路图。
    Zhè zhāng gōng jiāo xiàn lù tú hěn qīng chǔ.
    This bus route map is very clear.

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.

线路line or route
线xiànline路lùroute
联合Side by side
图túdiagram

线 and 路 together mean a line or route, and 图 presents it as a map or diagram.

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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
足足zú
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè路lù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Open 路 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 圖; 图 is its simplified writing.

  • 囗囗wéiwalled city
  • 啚啚bǐ

The traditional form 圖 pairs 囗, a walled city, with 啚, an early form meaning remote areas or territory. The simplified 图 is a later abbreviation.

Open 图 →

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