虹吸 (hóng xī) — to siphon

Definition

Technical verb meaning to siphon — using a tube or similar conduit to draw liquid from a higher to a lower level, or figuratively to draw off resources/talent. Tagged 虹吸原理 ('siphon principle') is the standard collocation.

verb
to siphon

Examples

  • 虹吸。
    Tā yòng yì gēn guǎn zi bǎ shuǐ hóng xī dào tǒng lǐ.
    He used a tube to siphon the water into a bucket.
  • ，虹吸。
    Shí yàn zhōng, wǒ men lì yòng hóng xī yuán lǐ jiāng yè tǐ zhuǎn yí.
    In the experiment, we used the siphon principle to transfer the liquid.
  • 虹吸。
    Jīng jì tè qū wǎng wǎng huì hóng xī zhōu biān dì qū de rén cái hé zī yuán.
    Special economic zones often siphon talent and resources from surrounding areas.

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.

虹hóngrainbow
吸xīsuck

虹, the rainbow shape, combines with 吸 to name the suction through an arching tube.

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
虫虫chónginsect; creature
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng虹hóng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The earliest form drew a two-headed dragon; later 虹 used 虫 (creature) to show it was a creature and 工 for sound.

Open 虹 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí吸xī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

吸 pairs 口 (mouth) with 及, which gives the sound and relates to grabbing, so the shape suggests grabbing through the mouth.

Open 吸 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.