超音速 (chāo yīn sù) — supersonic speed

Definition

noun

supersonic speed

超音速。
Zhè jià fēi jī néng yǐ chāo yīn sù fēi xíng.
This aircraft can fly at supersonic speed.
超音速。
chāo yīn sù Jì shù yǐ jīng yìng yòng yú mín yòng háng kōng.
Supersonic technology has been applied to civil aviation.
超音速。
Tū pò chāo yīn sù shì yí gè zhòng yào de kē xué chéng jiù.
Breaking through the supersonic barrier is an important scientific achievement.

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.

超音exceeds sound

动宾Verb + object

超 means exceed, 音 means sound, and 速 means speed, so the word denotes speed beyond sound.

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.

走召超

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

召

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.

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

音 adds a short stroke that seals the mouth-like part, showing a covered or muffled sound rather than speech.

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

辵辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

束

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

速 pairs 辵, the walking part, with 束, which is used for its sound; the walking part fits the meaning of moving fast.

Appears in