震中 (zhèn zhōng) — epicenter (of an earthquake)

Definition

noun

epicenter (of an earthquake)

Measure word · 个

震中，。
Zhè cì dì zhèn de zhèn zhōng zài shān qū, rén yuán shāng wáng jiào shǎo.
The epicenter of this earthquake was in a mountain area, so there were relatively few casualties.
震中。
Kē xué jiā zhèng zài cè liáng zhèn zhōng de wèi zhì hé shēn dù.
Scientists are measuring the location and depth of the epicenter.
震中。
Jù lí zhèn zhōng yì bǎi gōng lǐ wài de chéng shì yě yǒu míng xiǎn zhèn gǎn.
Cities a hundred kilometers from the epicenter also felt the earthquake clearly.

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.

震zhènearthquake

震 means earthquake and 中 means center, so the word names the central point of an earthquake.

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.

雨辰震

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

辰

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

震 combines 雨 (rain) with 辰 (chén), which gives the sound; 雨 is the part associated with the character’s meaning.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.