单体 (dān tǐ) — monomer (chemistry) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A chemistry term for a monomer — a small molecule that bonds with others to form a polymer (高分子).

noun

monomer (chemistry)

Examples

单体。
Zhè ge dān tǐ shì jù yǐ xī de jī běn dān wèi.
This monomer is the basic unit of polyethylene.
单体。
Hěn duō dān tǐ lián jiē chéng gāo fēn zǐ.
Many monomers link together to form a polymer.
单体。
Yán jiū zhě hé chéng le yí gè xīn de dān tǐ.
The researchers synthesized a new monomer.

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.

单 means single and 体 means body or unit, giving a single unit or monomer.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 單; 单 is its simplified writing.

The form 單 originally pictured a Y-shaped wooden stick with two stones on top.

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 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

骨豊體

Meaning part形符xíngfú

骨骨gǔbone

Sound part声符shēngfú

豊

豊lǐ體tǐ

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

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Appears in

Physics & Chemistry

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.