通讯兵 (tōng xùn bīng) — signalman, communications soldier

Definition

A military soldier who handles communications — setting up and running radio, telephone, and other signal equipment. Translates as 'signalman' or 'signal corps soldier'.

noun
signalmancommunications soldier
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 通讯兵。
    Tā zài bù duì lǐ dāng tōng xùn bīng.
    He serves as a signalman in the army.
  • 通讯兵。
    tōng xùn bīng Fù zé jià shè diàn huà xiàn.
    The signalman is responsible for setting up telephone lines.
  • 通讯兵。
    Zhè zhī duì wu xū yào liǎng míng tōng xùn bīng.
    This unit needs two signalmen.

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.

通讯communications
通tōngtransmit讯xùnnews
动宾Verb + object
兵bīngsoldier

通 “transmit” and 讯 “news” give 通讯 “communications”; 兵 “soldier” names the soldier who handles them.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng通tōng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

Open 通 →

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 訊; 讯 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
卂
卂xùn訊xùn
Same sound today

The traditional form 訊 combines 言 (words) with 卂 as a sound part; the simplified 讯 is a shorthand.

Open 讯 →

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

  • 斤斤jīna short axe
  • 廾廾gǒng2 hands

兵 combines 斤, a short axe, with 廾, two hands, showing a pair of hands holding a weapon.

Open 兵 →

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