聚苯乙烯 (jù běn yǐ xī) — polystyrene

Definition

noun

polystyrene

聚苯乙烯。
jù běn yǐ xī Shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de sù liào cái liào.
Polystyrene is a common plastic material.
聚苯乙烯。
Zhè zhǒng bāo zhuāng hé shì yòng jù běn yǐ xī zuò de.
This packaging box is made of polystyrene.
聚苯乙烯。
jù běn yǐ xī Bù néng fàng zài gāo wēn huán jìng zhōng.
Polystyrene cannot be placed in high-temperature environments.

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.

艹本苯

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎo

Sound part声符shēngfú

本

Same sound today

The top part 艹 relates to plants, and the bottom part 本 shows the pronunciation.

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.