试验室 (shì yàn shì) — laboratory

Definition

noun
laboratory
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 试验室
    Wǒ men zài shì yàn shì lǐ zuò huà xué shí yàn.
    We do chemistry experiments in the laboratory.
  • 试验室
    Zhè ge shì yàn shì yǒu hěn duō xīn yí qì.
    This laboratory has many new instruments.
  • 试验室
    Tā měi tiān zài shì yàn shì gōng zuò dào hěn wǎn.
    He works in the laboratory until very late every day.

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.

试验experiment
shìtestyànexamine
联合Coordinate

The “试验” part gives experiment and “室” part gives room, together meaning a room for experiments.

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 試; 试 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
shìshì
Same sound today

The traditional form 試 puts 言 beside 式, and 式 gives the sound; the simplified 试 is the form of this character.

Open 试 →

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 驗; 验 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
qiānyàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 驗 pairs 馬 (horse) with 僉 for sound; the simplified 验 is a later abbreviation.

Open 验 →

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

室 puts 宀 (roof) over 至, the spot where someone stops, giving the meaning of a house or residence.

Open 室 →

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