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调频 (tiáo pín) — frequency modulation (FM)

Definition

A technical term meaning 'frequency modulation (FM)', used in radio and communications. Often paired with 广播 or 信号, and contrasted with 调幅 (AM) — FM resists interference better but travels shorter distances.

noun
frequency modulation (FM)

Examples

  • 调频。
    Zhè tái shōu yīn jī kě yǐ jiē shōu tiáo pín guǎng bō.
    This radio can receive FM broadcasts.
  • 调频。
    tiáo pín Xìn hào de kàng gān rǎo néng lì bǐ tiáo fú qiáng.
    FM signals have stronger anti-interference capability than AM.
  • 调频。
    Xǔ duō chéng shì dōu yǒu tiáo pín yīn yuè diàn tái.
    Many cities have FM music radio stations.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

调tiáoadjust
频pínfrequency

'调' means adjust and '频' means frequency, giving the idea of adjusting frequency.

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 調; 调 is its simplified writing.

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

The traditional form 調 pairs 言 (speech) with 周, which shows how it was pronounced. The simplified 调 is a later shorthand.

Open 调 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頻; 频 is its simplified writing.

For 频, the traditional form 頻 came from an older form showing a person near water and meaning 'on the verge'; one part was later removed to mark the 'frequent' use.

Open 频 →
Appears in
Phones & Telecom

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