载重 (zài zhòng) — load; carrying capacity

Definition

载重 is a technical noun for the maximum weight a vehicle, bridge, or aircraft can safely carry — used on specifications, signs (载重限制), and engineering documents. It is not the act of loading something.

noun
loadcarrying capacity

Examples

  • 载重。
    Zhè liàng kǎ chē de zài zhòng shì shí dūn.
    The load capacity of this truck is ten tons.
  • 载重。
    Zhè zuò qiáo de zài zhòng xiàn zhì shì wǔ dūn.
    The weight limit of this bridge is five tons.
  • 载重。
    Fēi jī de zài zhòng bāo kuò chéng kè hé xíng li.
    The aircraft's load includes passengers and luggage.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

载zǎicarry
重zhòngweight

载 means carry, and 重 means weight, giving the sense of the weight carried.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
東
東dōng重zhòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

重 developed from a picture of a man carrying a bag, with 人 for the man and 東 for the bag; a later ground element was folded into the form.

Open 重 →

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