动物界 (dòng wù jiè) — animal kingdom (Kingdom Animalia in biological taxonomy)

Definition

The taxonomic 'Kingdom Animalia' in biology — one of the classical biological kingdoms, parallel to 植物界 (plant kingdom). Refers to the whole category, not individual animals.

noun
animal kingdom (Kingdom Animalia in biological taxonomy)

Examples

  • 动物界。
    dòng wù jiè Bāo kuò suǒ yǒu yǐ zhī de dòng wù zhǒng lèi.
    The animal kingdom includes all known animal species.
  • ，动物界。
    Shēng wù xué shàng, rén lèi yě shǔ yú dòng wù jiè.
    In biology, humans also belong to the animal kingdom.
  • 动物界。
    dòng wù jiè Hé zhí wù jiè shì dì qiú shàng zuì dà de liǎng gè shēng wù fēn lèi.
    The animal kingdom and the plant kingdom are the two largest biological classifications on Earth.

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.

动物animal
动dòngmove物wùthing
偏正Modifier + head
界jièrealm

动物 names animals and 界 is a broad realm, giving the animal kingdom.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
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.

Open 动 →

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
牛牛niú
Sound part声符shēngfú
勿
勿wù物wù
Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

Open 物 →

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
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
介
介jiè界jiè
Same sound today

界 is built from 田 (field) and 介. 田 carries the meaning, while 介 gives the sound.

Open 界 →

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