净空 (jìng kōng) — clearance, headroom (vertical space under a vehicle or structure)

Definition

Technical term for vertical clearance — the open space under or above a structure, like a bridge or vehicle. Distinct from 空间 (general 'space' or 'room') and 面积 (floor area).

noun
clearanceheadroom (vertical space under a vehicle or structure)

Examples

  • 净空，。
    Zhè liàng chē de jìng kōng hěn gāo, shì hé yuè yě.
    This car has high ground clearance, suitable for off-roading.
  • 净空，。
    Qiáo xià de jìng kōng zhǐ yǒu liǎng mǐ, dà kǎ chē guò bú qù.
    The headroom under the bridge is only two meters, so large trucks can't pass.
  • 净空。
    Xiū lù shí yào bǎo zhèng zú gòu de jìng kōng.
    When building a road, you must ensure sufficient clearance.

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.

净jìngclean
空kōngspace

A “clean” “space” names unobstructed clearance.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 净 →

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
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

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