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副产品 (fù chǎn pǐn) — by-product

Definition

Literally 'side product', used for both the literal by-product of a process and the figurative side benefit of an activity or project. Pairs with verbs like 产生, 出现 and comes after a possessor (e.g. 研究项目的∼).

noun
by-product
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 副产品。
    Shí yóu jiā gōng huì chǎn shēng hěn duō fù chǎn pǐn.
    Oil processing produces many by-products.
  • 副产品。
    Nóng yè fù chǎn pǐn kě yǐ yòng lái zuò féi liào.
    Agricultural by-products can be used to make fertilizer.
  • 副产品。
    Zhè ge yán jiū xiàng mù de fù chǎn pǐn shì yí gè xīn fā xiàn.
    The by-product of this research project is a new discovery.

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.

副fùsecondary
产品product
产chǎnproduce品pǐngoods
偏正Modifier + head

副 means secondary and 产品 means product, so it is a product that comes along with the main one.

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dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
畐
畐fú副fù
Same sound today

副 is built from 畐, which gives its sound, and 刂, a form of the knife 刀.

Open 副 →

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 產; 产 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
生生shēngto be born
Sound part声符shēngfú
彥
彥yàn產chǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 產 pairs 生, "to be born," with 彥 as a sound part; the simplified 产 is a shorthand.

Open 产 →

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

品 repeats the same simple shape three times, representing various objects.

Open 品 →
Appears in
Industry & Manufacturing

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