传真机 (chuán zhēn jī) — fax machine | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

fax machine

Measure word · 台

Examples

传真机。
Gōng sī xīn mǎi le yì tái chuán zhēn jī.
The company bought a new fax machine.
传真机。
Qǐng bǎ zhè fèn wén jiàn yòng chuán zhēn jī chuán guò qù.
Please send this document over via fax machine.
传真机？
chuán zhēn jī Shàng de diàn huà hào mǎ shì duō shǎo?
What is the phone number on the fax machine?

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.

传真fax

传chuántransmit真zhēntrue

动宾Verb + object

机jīmachine

传真 'transmit true content' names the function, and 机 marks the device.

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 傳; 传 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

人人rénman

Sound part声符shēngfú

專

專zhuān傳chuán

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

The traditional form 傳 puts 人 (man) beside 專, which gives the sound; the simplified 传 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not the historical ones.

Open 传 →

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

貝貝bèicowrie; shell

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠂈

𠂈𠂈真zhēn

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

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →

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

木几机