观察镜 (guān chá jìng) — observation mirror; viewing mirror

Definition

noun
observation mirrorviewing mirror
Measure word · 面

Examples

  • 观察镜。
    Tā yòng guān chá jìng kàn yuǎn chù.
    He uses an observation mirror to look into the distance.
  • 观察镜。
    Zhè ge guān chá jìng hěn qīng xī.
    This observation mirror is very clear.
  • 观察镜。
    Wǒ zài shāng diàn mǎi le yí gè guān chá jìng.
    I bought an observation mirror at the store.

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.

观察observation
观guānlook察cháexamine
联合Side by side
镜jìngmirror

观 and 察 mean looking and examining, and 镜 is a lens or mirror, giving a mirror used for observation.

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 觀; 观 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn觀guān
Same sound today

The traditional form 觀 uses 見 (see) for meaning and 雚 for sound.

Open 观 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
祭
祭jì察chá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 察 combines 宀, a roof, with 祭 as the sound part.

Open 察 →

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 鏡; 镜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
竟
竟jìng鏡jìng
Same sound today

The traditional form 鏡 puts 金, metal, next to 竟 to give the sound. The simplified 镜 is a later shorthand.

Open 镜 →

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