伽马射线 (gā mǎ shè xiàn) — (physics) gamma ray

Definition

noun
(physics) gamma ray

Examples

  • 伽马射线。
    Kē xué jiā yòng gā mǎ shè xiàn yán jiū yǔ zhòu zhōng de gāo néng xiàn xiàng.
    Scientists use gamma rays to study high-energy phenomena in the universe.
  • 伽马射线。
    Yī shēng yòng gā mǎ shè xiàn lái zhì liáo zhǒng liú.
    Doctors use gamma rays to treat tumors.
  • 伽马射线，。
    gā mǎ shè xiàn Duì rén tǐ yǒu hài, xū yào zuò hǎo fáng hù.
    Gamma rays are harmful to the human body, so good protection is needed.

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.

伽马gamma
伽jiā马mǎ
射线ray
射shèemit线xiànline
偏正Modifier + head

伽马 spells gamma, while 射 means emit and 线 means line, giving a gamma ray.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
加
加jiā伽
Same sound today

伽 is made of 人 (man) plus 加, and 加 is used for the sound.

Open 伽 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 馬; 马 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 馬 shows a horse with its head facing left, a flowing mane, and two legs standing vertically.

Open 马 →

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

In 射, the left part comes from 弓 (bow) and 矢 (arrow), and the right part comes from a hand drawing the bowstring.

Open 射 →

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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