制动器 (zhì dòng qì) — brake (mechanical device)

Definition

noun

brake (mechanical device)

Measure word · 个

制动器，。
Zhè liàng chē de zhì dòng qì huài le, xū yào xiū lǐ.
The brake on this car is broken and needs repair.
制动器，。
Sī jī cǎi le yí xià zhì dòng qì, chē màn màn tíng le xià lái.
The driver pressed the brake, and the car slowly stopped.
制动器。
Qí zì xíng chē qián yào jiǎn chá zhì dòng qì shì fǒu zhèng cháng.
Before riding a bicycle, check whether the brakes are working properly.

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.

制动braking

动宾Verb + object

'制动' restraining motion plus '器' device names a brake.

Characters in this word

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

The form 制 pairs 朱 (tree) with 刀 (knife), showing the act of cutting a tree.

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

重力動

Meaning part形符xíngfú

力力lìstrength

Sound part声符shēngfú

重

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

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

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

The origin of 器 is uncertain; one traditional account reads the whole shape as a scene of guarding over four vessels.