原型机 (yuán xíng jī) — prototype (aircraft or machine)

Definition

noun
prototype (aircraft or machine)
Measure word · 台

Examples

  • 原型机。
    Zhè jià yuán xíng jī zhèng zài shì fēi jiē duàn.
    This prototype aircraft is in the test-flight phase.
  • 原型机。
    Gōng sī jì huà míng nián tuī chū xīn yí dài yuán xíng jī.
    The company plans to launch a new generation of prototypes next year.
  • 原型机。
    Kē xué jiā duì yuán xíng jī jìn xíng le duō cì gǎi jìn.
    The scientists made multiple improvements to the prototype.

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.

原型original model
原yuánoriginal型xíngmodel
偏正Modifier + head
机jīmachine

原型 (original model) and 机 (machine) combine to mean a prototype machine.

Characters in this word

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

原 combines 泉 (spring) and 厂 (cliff), picturing a spring bursting from a cliff-side, which gives the sense of origin or source.

Open 原 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
刑
刑xíng型xíng
Same sound today

型 pairs 土 (earth) with 刑, which supplies the sound; the shape shows an earthen mold, hence form or pattern.

Open 型 →

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
木木mùtree; wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
几
几jǐ机jī
Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Open 机 →
Appears in
Industry & ManufacturingTechnology & Engineering

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