亚热带 (yà rè dài) — subtropical (zone or climate)

Definition

noun

subtropical (zone or climate)

亚热带，。
Zhè ge chéng shì wèi yú yà rè dài dì qū, dōng tiān hěn wēn nuǎn.
This city is located in the subtropical zone; winters are very warm.
亚热带。
yà rè dài De qì hòu shì hé zhòng zhí gān jú lèi shuǐ guǒ.
The subtropical climate is suitable for growing citrus fruits.
亚热带，。
Wǒ zuì xǐ huan yà rè dài de zhí wù, bǐ rú zōng lǘ shù.
I like subtropical plants the most, such as palm trees.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

热带tropical zone

偏正Modifier + head

亚 (sub) and 热带 (tropical belt) name the zone below tropical.

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 亞; 亚 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 亞 likely shows an overhead view of a construction, perhaps a 亞-shaped tomb. Its later simplified form 亚 is just a shorthand.

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 熱; 热 is its simplified writing.

埶灬熱

Meaning part形符xíngfú

灬Written in full as火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

埶

埶yì熱rè

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 熱 pairs 埶 with 火 (written as 灬) to show heat, while 埶 gives a sound.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 帶; 带 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 帶 was drawn as a woven belt; the simplified 带 is a later shorthand.