反潜 (fǎn qián) — anti-submarine (warfare, operations, or equipme…

Definition

Military term meaning 'anti-submarine' — used for warfare, operations, or the equipment (武器, 训练, 系统) designed to detect and combat submarines.

anti-submarine (warfare, operations, or equipment)

反潜。
Zhè zhǒng fǎn qián jì shù fēi cháng xiān jìn.
This kind of anti-submarine technology is very advanced.
反潜。
Hǎi jūn zuì jìn jiā qiáng le fǎn qián xùn liàn.
The navy recently strengthened anti-submarine training.
反潜。
Tā men zhèng zài yán fā xīn xíng fǎn qián xì tǒng.
They are developing a new type of anti-submarine system.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

潜qiánsubmarine

反 means oppose, and 潜 stands for submarine, so the whole names opposing submarines.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

厂

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

反 uses 又 (hand) for meaning and 厂 for sound. Its original shape showed a hand turning its palm over, giving the sense of return or reverse.

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 潛; 潜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

朁

朁cǎn潛qián

Same sound today

The form 潛 has 水 as a meaning part and 朁 as a sound part; this note is about 潛, not the simplified 潜.