光源 (guāng yuán) — phy. light source; illuminant

Definition

Physics/optics term for any object that emits light (sun, lamp, LED). Used in scientific writing, not everyday speech.

verb
phy. light sourceilluminant

Examples

  • 光源
    Zhè ge guāng yuán fēi cháng liàng, kě yǐ zhào liàng zhěng gè fáng jiān.
    This light source is very bright and can light up the whole room.
  • 光源
    Yán jiū tuán duì zhǎo dào le yí gè gèng jié néng de guāng yuán.
    The research team found a more energy-efficient light source.
  • 光源
    Zì rán guāng yuán hé rén gōng guāng yuán duì zhí wù shēng zhǎng de yǐng xiǎng bù tóng.
    Natural and artificial light sources affect plant growth differently.

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.

yuánsource

光 (light) specifies the kind of 源 (source).

Characters in this word

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

  • huǒfire
  • jiékneeling person

The shape 光 places 火 (fire) above 卩 (a kneeling person), showing fire over the head and the shining of light.

Open 光 →

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
shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
yuányuán
Same sound today

源 combines 水 (water) and 原 (origin): 水 points to water, and 原 gives the sound.

Open 源 →

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