刻度盘 (kè dù pán) — dial (on a measuring instrument, e.g. a clock, gauge, or scale)

Definition

noun
dial (on a measuring instrument, e.g. a clock, gauge, or scale)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 刻度盘。
    Qǐng jiǎn chá yí xià yí biǎo shàng de kè dù pán shì fǒu qīng xī.
    Please check whether the dial on the gauge is clear.
  • 刻度盘。
    Zhè ge yā lì biǎo de kè dù pán yǐ jīng mó sǔn le.
    The dial on this pressure gauge is already worn out.
  • 刻度盘。
    Tā zǐ xì dú zhe wēn dù jì kè dù pán shàng de shù zì.
    He carefully read the numbers on the thermometer dial.

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.

刻度graduations
刻kèmark度dùdegree
动宾Verb + object
盘pándisk

The 刻 (mark) and 度 (degree) form graduations, which describe the 盘 (disk) of a dial.

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
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
亥
亥hài刻kè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

刻 is made of 刂, a form of 刀 (knife), and 亥, which gives the sound.

Open 刻 →

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
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
石
石shí度dù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

Open 度 →

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 盤; 盘 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
皿皿mǐn
Sound part声符shēngfú
般
般bān盤pán
Same sound today

The traditional form 盤 pairs 般, which gives the sound, with 皿, a vessel. This note is about 盤, not the simplified 盘.

Open 盘 →

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