超短波 (chāo duǎn bō) — ultrashort wave (radio wave with very short wavelength, used in communication and medical therapy)

Definition

Technical term for 'ultrashort wave' — radio waves with wavelengths shorter than shortwave (短波), used in radar, TV, and medical therapy. A specialized physics/engineering noun, not a general-vocabulary word.

noun
ultrashort wave (radio wave with very short wavelength, used in communication and medical therapy)

Examples

  • 超短波。
    Yī shēng lì yòng chāo duǎn bō jìn xíng zhì liáo.
    Doctors use ultrashort waves for treatment.
  • 超短波。
    chāo duǎn bō Zài léi dá jì shù zhōng fā huī zhe zhòng yào zuò yòng.
    Ultrashort waves play an important role in radar technology.
  • 超短波。
    Zhè zhǒng shè bèi kě yǐ fā shè chāo duǎn bō.
    This device can emit ultrashort waves.

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.

超短ultrashort
超chāoultra短duǎnshort
偏正Modifier + head
波bōwave

Waves 波 that are 短 in an 超 way, i.e. ultrashort waves.

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
走走zǒurun
Sound part声符shēngfú
召
召zhào超chāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

超 pairs 走, meaning “run,” with 召, which gives the sound.

Open 超 →

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
矢矢shǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu短duǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

短 is built from 矢 and 豆. 豆 is used for its sound, while 矢 is the component linked to the meaning.

Open 短 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí波bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 氵 is water, and the right side 皮 gives the sound.

Open 波 →

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