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仪表 (yí biǎo) — bearing, appearance, demeanor; meter, gauge, measuring instrument

Definition

Two distinct senses: a person's bearing/demeanor (compare 风度/举止), and a meter/gauge for measuring (compare 表, which is more everyday; 计 leans literary). Example 仪表盘 = dashboard/instrument panel.

noun
bearingappearancedemeanormetergaugemeasuring instrument
Measure word · 台

Examples

  • 仪表，。
    Tā yí biǎo táng táng, gěi rén liú xià hěn hǎo de yìn xiàng.
    He has a dignified bearing and makes a great impression.
  • 。
    Zhè liàng chē de yí biǎo pán shè jì dé hěn jiǎn jié.
    The dashboard of this car is designed very simply.
  • 仪表。
    Shí yàn shì lǐ de yí biǎo xū yào dìng qī jiào zhǔn.
    The meters in the lab need regular calibration.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

仪yíappearance; instrument
表biǎoappearance; meter

仪 and 表 both refer to outward appearance or measuring devices, giving bearing or meter.

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 儀; 仪 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
義
義yì儀yí
Same sound today

In the traditional form 儀, the left part 亻 shows a person, and the right part 義 supplies the sound. This description is about 儀, not the simplified 仪.

Open 仪 →

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

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.

Open 表 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9AppearanceMiscellaneous Objects

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