软件 (ruǎn jiàn) — software | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

software

Measure word · 个

Examples

软件。
Wǒ xià zài le yí gè xīn de ruǎn jiàn.
I downloaded a new piece of software.
软件。
Zhè ge ruǎn jiàn hěn róng yì yòng.
This software is very easy to use.
软件。
Gōng sī zhèng zài kāi fā yí gè xīn de ruǎn jiàn.
The company is developing a new piece of software.

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.

软 means soft, 件 means item, together the intangible items of a computer.

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 軟; 软 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jūcarriage

Sound part声符shēngfú

耎

耎ruǎn軟ruǎn

Same sound today

The traditional form 軟 pairs 車 (carriage) with 耎 as a sound part; 耎 depicted a man under rain, and simplified 软 uses a later right side instead of 耎.

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

人人rénman
牛牛niúcow

件 is made of 人, 'man', and 牛, 'cow'.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Computers & Internet

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