聚氯乙烯 (jù lǜ yǐ xī) — polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Definition

noun

polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

聚氯乙烯。
Zhè zhǒng jù lǜ yǐ xī guǎn hěn nài yòng.
This kind of PVC pipe is very durable.
聚氯乙烯。
jù lǜ yǐ xī Shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de sù liào.
PVC is a common type of plastic.
聚氯乙烯。
Gōng chǎng yòng jù lǜ yǐ xī shēng chǎn diàn xiàn.
The factory uses PVC to produce electrical wires.

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.

取乑聚

Meaning part形符xíngfú

乑乑yínthree men

Sound part声符shēngfú

取

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

聚 is built from 取, which gives the sound, and 乑, drawn as three men, to show people coming together.

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

彔

彔lù氯lǜ

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

氯 pairs 气 (gas) with 彔, which gives the sound; 彔 is also a shortened form of a character meaning green.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The origin of 乙 is obscure, with old suggestions including a plant trying to sprout, a fish's intestine or gill bone, or flowing water.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

火希烯

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

希

Same sound today

烯 pairs 火 (fire) with 希, which gives the sound.