中子弹 (zhōng zǐ dàn) — neutron bomb

Definition

A neutron bomb is a nuclear weapon designed to release most of its energy as neutron radiation, killing living beings while limiting structural damage to buildings.

noun
neutron bomb
Measure word · 颗

Examples

  • 中子弹。
    zhōng zǐ dàn Shì yì zhǒng shā shāng lì hěn qiáng de wǔ qì.
    A neutron bomb is a very lethal weapon.
  • 中子弹。
    Guó jì shè huì hū yù jìn zhǐ shǐ yòng zhōng zǐ dàn.
    The international community calls for a ban on neutron bombs.
  • 中子弹？
    Zhè zhǒng zhōng zǐ dàn de bào zhà fàn wéi yǒu duō dà?
    What is the blast radius of this kind of neutron bomb?

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.

中子neutron
中zhōngneutral子zǐparticle
偏正Modifier + head
弹tánbomb

中子 names a neutral particle, and 弹 is a bomb, so the name points to a neutron bomb.

Characters in this word

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.

Open 中 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōng
Sound part声符shēngfú
單
單dān彈tán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a shorthand.

Open 弹 →

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