芯 (xīn) — (bound form) core; central part (e.g., 核心, 岩芯); (bound form) wick; fuse (e.g., 灯芯, 引信); (bound form) chip (e.g., 芯片)
Definition
芯 (xīn) is a bound form meaning 'core' or 'wick' — it almost never stands alone, appearing only in compounds like 芯片 (chip), 灯芯 (lamp wick), and 岩芯 (rock core). The meaning shifts with the compound it joins.
bound form
corecentral part (e.g., 核心, 岩芯)wickfuse (e.g., 灯芯, 引信)chip (e.g., 芯片)
Examples
- ，。Zhè ge xīn piàn shì xīn de, sù dù hěn kuài.This chip is new and very fast.
- 芯，。Dēng xīn shāo wán le, xū yào huàn yì gēn.The wick has burned out and needs to be replaced.
- 芯。Zhè kuài cí xīn shì diàn nǎo de zhòng yào bù jiàn.This magnetic core is an important component of the computer.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant
The top part 艹 points to plant or grass materials, and the lower 心 gives the sound.
Appears in
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