透明胶 (tòu míng jiāo) — transparent tape, Scotch tape

Definition

noun
transparent tapeScotch tape
Measure word · 卷

Examples

  • 透明胶。
    Qǐng yòng tòu míng jiāo bǎ xìn fēng fēng hǎo.
    Please use Scotch tape to seal the envelope.
  • 透明胶。
    Shū jià shàng de tòu míng jiāo yòng wán le.
    The transparent tape on the bookshelf is used up.
  • 透明胶。
    Tā jiǎn le yí duàn tòu míng jiāo tiē zài le zhǐ shàng.
    He cut a piece of Scotch tape and stuck it on the paper.

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.

透明transparent
透tòutransparent明míngclear
联合Side by side
胶jiāotape

透明 (clear) + 胶 (tape) names a clear adhesive tape.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalking
Sound part声符shēngfú
秀
秀xiù透tòu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 透 has 辵, a walking part, and 秀, which provides the sound.

Open 透 →

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

明 combines 日 (sun) and 月 (moon), showing the sun just rising while the moon has not yet set, or two bright objects in the sky, to express brightness.

Open 明 →

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 膠; 胶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat; flesh
Sound part声符shēngfú
翏
翏liù膠jiāo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 膠 pairs ⺼ (meat; flesh) with 翏, which gives the sound.

Open 胶 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.