原子 (yuán zǐ) — atom | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

atom

Measure word · 个

原子。
Měi gè yuán zǐ dōu yǒu yí gè yuán zǐ hé hé diàn zǐ.
Every atom has a nucleus and electrons.
原子。
Zhè zhǒng cái liào shì yóu jǐ bǎi gè yuán zǐ zǔ chéng de.
This material is composed of several hundred atoms.
原子。
Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū yuán zǐ zhī jiān de xiāng hù zuò yòng.
Scientists are studying the interactions between atoms.

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.

子zǐparticle

原 gives the sense of original or primary, and 子 gives the sense of a tiny particle, naming the atom.

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.

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Appears in