产科 (chǎn kē) — obstetrics department (in a hospital); obstetri…

Definition

noun

obstetrics department (in a hospital)obstetrics (the medical specialty)

Measure word · 个

产科。
Tā huái yùn hòu měi gè yuè dōu qù chǎn kē jiǎn chá.
After she got pregnant, she goes to the obstetrics department for check-ups every month.
产科。
Zhè wèi yī shēng shì chǎn kē de zhuān jiā.
This doctor is an expert in obstetrics.
产科。
Tā zài dà xué zhǔ xiū chǎn kē.
He majored in obstetrics at university.

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.

产chǎnchildbirth

科kēdepartment

产 refers to childbirth and 科 to a department, so the word names the obstetrics section.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 產; 产 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

生生shēngto be born

Sound part声符shēngfú

彥

彥yàn產chǎn

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

The traditional form 產 pairs 生, "to be born," with 彥 as a sound part; the simplified 产 is a shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

禾斗科

Meaning part形符xíngfú

斗斗dòumeasuring tool

Sound part声符shēngfú

禾

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

科 pairs 禾, which gives the hé sound, with 斗, a measuring tool.

Appears in