软盘 (ruǎn pán) — floppy disk, diskette

Definition

noun

floppy diskdiskette

Measure word · 张

软盘。
Zhè tái jiù diàn nǎo hái zài yòng ruǎn pán.
This old computer still uses floppy disks.
软盘。
Wǒ bǎ wén jiàn cún zài ruǎn pán lǐ le.
I saved the file on a floppy disk.
软盘。
Xiàn zài hěn shǎo yǒu rén yòng ruǎn pán le.
Now very few people use floppy disks.

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 (soft) describes 盘 (disk), naming a flexible disk.

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.

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 盤; 盘 is its simplified writing.

般皿盤

Meaning part形符xíngfú

皿皿mǐn

Sound part声符shēngfú

般

Same sound today

The traditional form 盤 pairs 般, which gives the sound, with 皿, a vessel. This note is about 盤, not the simplified 盘.