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钢筋 (gāng jīn) — rebar (steel reinforcing bar used in concrete)

Definition

noun
rebar (steel reinforcing bar used in concrete)
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 钢筋。
    Gōng rén yòng gāng jīn gài fáng zi.
    Workers use rebar to build houses.
  • 钢筋。
    Zhè gēn gāng jīn hěn cháng.
    This piece of rebar is very long.
  • 钢筋。
    gāng jīn Bǐ mù tou gèng jiē shi.
    Rebar is stronger than wood.

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.

钢gāngsteel
筋jīnbar

钢 gives the material, and 筋 names the bar-like part; together it is a steel bar.

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 鋼; 钢 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
岡
岡gāng鋼gàng
Same sound today

The traditional form 鋼 shows 金, meaning metal, next to 岡, which carries the sound gāng; the simplified 钢 is a later shorthand.

Open 钢 →

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

筋 pairs 竹 (bamboo) with 𠛧 (peel), giving the idea of sinewy fibers from peeled bamboo.

Open 筋 →
Appears in
Materials & Substances

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