中枢神经 (zhōng shū shén jīng) — central nervous system

Definition

noun
central nervous system

Examples

  • 中枢神经。
    zhōng shū shén jīng Shì rén tǐ zuì zhòng yào de xì tǒng zhī yī.
    The central nervous system is one of the most important systems in the human body.
  • 中枢神经。
    Yī shēng zhèng zài zǐ xì jiǎn chá bìng rén de zhōng shū shén jīng.
    The doctor is carefully examining the patient's central nervous system.
  • 中枢神经。
    Dà nǎo hé jǐ suǐ gòng tóng gòu chéng zhōng shū shén jīng.
    The brain and spinal cord together form the central nervous system.

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.

中枢center
中zhōngcentral枢shūpivot
联合Side by side
神经nerve
神shénnerve经jīngfiber
偏正Modifier + head

中枢神经: 中枢 is the center, 神经 is the nerve, so central nerve.

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 →

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 樞; 枢 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
區
區qū樞⁰shū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 樞 combines 木 (wood) with 區 for the sound; the simplified 枢 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical component.

Open 枢 →

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
示示shìgod; deity
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn神shén
Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

Open 神 →

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 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

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