藻类 (zǎo lèi) — algae

Definition

noun
algae

Examples

  • 藻类。
    Zhè piàn hú lǐ yǒu hěn duō zǎo lèi.
    There is a lot of algae in this lake.
  • 藻类。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū zhè zhǒng zǎo lèi de yòng tú.
    Scientists are studying the uses of this type of algae.
  • 藻类。
    zǎo lèi Shì shuǐ shēng tài xì tǒng de zhòng yào zǔ chéng bù fen.
    Algae are an important part of aquatic ecosystems.

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.

藻zǎoalga
类lèicategory

藻 refers to algae, and 类 denotes a class or category; the combination means the algae class.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
澡
澡zǎo藻zǎo
Same sound today

藻 is built from 艹, a grass sign, placed over 澡, which provides the sound zǎo.

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 類; 类 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
頪
頪lèi類lèi
Same sound today

The traditional form 類 pairs 犬, which relates to the meaning, with 頪, which gives the sound. The simplified 类 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 类 →

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