齿轮 (chǐ lún) — gear | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

gear

Measure word · 个

Examples

齿轮。
Zhè ge jī qì de chǐ lún xū yào gēng huàn.
The gear of this machine needs to be replaced.
齿轮，。
Zì xíng chē de chǐ lún huài le, qí bú dòng le.
The gear on the bicycle is broken, so I can't ride it.
齿轮，。
Shǒu biǎo de chǐ lún hěn xiǎo, yào xiǎo xīn.
The gear in the watch is very small, so be careful.

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.

齿chǐtooth

轮lúnwheel

'齿' means teeth, and '轮' means wheel, together denoting a toothed wheel.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 齒; 齿 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 齒 originally drew a mouth full of teeth, and later gained a part that gives a clue to its sound. The simplified 齿 is a later shorthand.

Open 齿 →

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 輪; 轮 is its simplified writing.

車侖輪

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jūcarriage

Sound part声符shēngfú

侖

侖lún輪lún

Same sound today

The traditional form 輪 uses 車, a carriage, and 侖 for the sound; the simplified 轮 is a later shorthand.

Open 轮 →