脉冲 (mài chōng) — pulse (physics, electronics)

Definition

noun

pulse (physics, electronics)

Measure word · 个

脉冲。
Xīn zàng tiào dòng chǎn shēng mài chōng.
Heartbeats produce pulses.
脉冲。
Zhè ge diàn lù kě yǐ chǎn shēng duǎn mài chōng.
This circuit can generate short pulses.
脉冲。
mài chōng Shì shù zì xìn hào de jī chǔ.
Pulses are the basis of digital signals.

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.

In 脉冲, 脉 (pulse) and 冲 (surge) combine to name a brief physical or electrical pulse.

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 脈; 脉 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺼Written in full as肉ròuflesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠂢

𠂢𠂢脈mài

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

The traditional form 脈 pairs ⺼ (flesh) with a sound part, 𠂢; the simplified 脉 is a shorthand, so its right side is not the historical sound part.

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 衝; 冲 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 冲 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (冲, 冲动) it is 衝; in others (冲) it is 沖.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

重

Same sound today

The traditional form 衝 shows 重 inside 行, with 行 as the meaning part and 重 as the sound part; the simplified 冲 is a later shorthand.

Appears in