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载体 (zài tǐ) — (chemistry) carrier; (epidemiology) vector; (figurative) vehicle; medium

Definition

A formal written term for the 'carrier/vehicle' that bears, transmits, or delivers something (a substance, pathogen, idea, or culture). Compared to 媒介, it leans more technical/scientific and less toward communication media.

noun
(chemistry) carrier(epidemiology) vector(figurative) vehiclemedium
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 载体。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào shì yào wù de yǒu xiào zài tǐ.
    This material is an effective carrier for the drug.
  • 载体。
    Wén zi shì dēng gé rè bìng dú de zài tǐ.
    Mosquitoes are the vector for the dengue virus.
  • 载体。
    Yǔ yán shì chuán dì wén huà de zhòng yào zài tǐ.
    Language is an important vehicle for transmitting culture.

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.

载zǎicarry
体tǐbody

载 carry and 体 body together mean a medium that carries something.

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 載; 载 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūchariot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢦏
𢦏𢦏載zài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 載 has 車, a chariot, and 𢦏 gives the sound; 载 is its simplified form.

Open 载 →

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 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
骨骨gǔbone
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ體tǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Open 体 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract ConceptsScience (General)

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