航标 (háng biāo) — navigation mark | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

navigation mark

Measure word · 个

Examples

航标。
Zhè xiē háng biāo wèi chuán zhī zhǐ míng le ān quán háng dào.
These navigation marks indicate the safe channel for ships.
航标。
Yú mín men yī kào háng biāo lái bì kāi àn jiāo.
Fishermen rely on navigation marks to avoid reefs.
航标。
Gǎng kǒu de háng biāo zài yè jiān huì fā chū liàng guāng.
The navigation marks at the port emit light at night.

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.

航hángnavigate

The 航 sense of navigation specifies the kind of 标, giving a navigation marker.

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.

舟亢航

Meaning part形符xíngfú

舟舟zhōuboat

Sound part声符shēngfú

亢

亢kàng航háng

Same sound today

航 shows a boat with 舟, and 亢 gives the character its sound.

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 標; 标 is its simplified writing.

木票標

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

票

票piào標biāo

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

The traditional form 標 pairs 木 with 票, and 票 gives the sound; the simplified 标 is the modern form of that traditional character.

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