轮机长 (lún jī cháng) — chief engineer

Definition

Chief engineer of a ship, in charge of the engine room and all mechanical systems. It is a maritime-specific title, not the general engineering role.

noun
chief engineer
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 轮机长。
    Wǒ men de lún jī cháng jīng yàn fēi cháng fēng fù.
    Our chief engineer is very experienced.
  • 轮机长。
    lún jī cháng Zhèng zài jiǎn chá fā dòng jī.
    The chief engineer is inspecting the engine.
  • 轮机长。
    Tā shì yì míng yōu xiù de lún jī cháng.
    He is an excellent chief engineer.

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.

轮机engine machinery
轮lúnwheel机jīmachine
联合Side by side
长chángchief

轮机 refers to engine machinery, and 长 means chief, so the person is the chief of that machinery.

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 輪; 轮 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
侖
侖lún輪lún
Same sound today

The traditional form 輪 uses 車, a carriage, and 侖 for the sound; the simplified 轮 is a later shorthand.

Open 轮 →

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
木木mùtree; wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
几
几jǐ机jī
Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Open 机 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

Open 长 →

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