介质 (jiè zhì) — medium (e.g., transmission medium, storage medium)

Definition

In physics and computing, a medium that carries, transmits, or stores something — like a transmission medium or storage medium. It refers to the material or channel itself, not the signal.

noun
medium (e.g., transmission medium, storage medium)

Examples

  • 介质。
    Guāng xiān shì yì zhǒng hěn hǎo de chuán shū jiè zhì.
    Optical fiber is a very good transmission medium.
  • 介质。
    Zhè ge yìng pán de cún chǔ jiè zhì shì gù tài de.
    The storage medium of this hard drive is solid-state.
  • 介质。
    Guāng pán zuò wéi cún chǔ jiè zhì yǐ jīng yòng dé yuè lái yuè shǎo le.
    As a storage medium, CDs are used less and less.

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.

介jièintermediary
质zhìsubstance

介质 uses 质, 'substance', that serves as 介, 'intermediary'.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

介 shows a central human form with two marks around it, indicating being between.

Open 介 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 質; 质 is its simplified writing.

  • 斦斦yín
  • 貝貝bèi

The traditional form 質 is made up of 貝 and 斦; this describes 質, not the simplified 质.

Open 质 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.