发报机 (fā bào jī) — transmitter (for telegraphy or radio signals)

Definition

noun
transmitter (for telegraphy or radio signals)
Measure word · 台

Examples

  • 发报机。
    Zǎo qī de fā bào jī shǐ yòng de shì mò ěr sī diàn mǎ.
    Early transmitters used Morse code.
  • 发报机，。
    Zhè tái fā bào jī yǐ jīng lǎo huà, xū yào gēng huàn.
    This transmitter has aged and needs to be replaced.
  • 发报机。
    Cāo zuò yuán zhèng zài tiáo shì xīn de fā bào jī.
    The operator is testing the new transmitter.

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.

发报send telegrams
发fāsend报bàotelegram
动宾Verb + object
机jīmachine

发报 means send telegrams, and 机 means machine, so it is a machine for sending telegrams.

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 發; 发 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 发 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (爆发, 出发) it is 發; in others (理发, 头发) it is 髮.

The form 發, which 发 stands for in many words, was originally drawn as a bow firing an arrow.

Open 发 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 報; 报 is its simplified writing.

  • 㚔㚔㚔handcuffs
  • 𠬝𠬝𠬝to subdue

The traditional form 報 puts 㚔 (handcuffs) beside 𠬝 (to subdue), showing someone restrained and subdued, as in convicting or punishing a guilty person. The simplified 报 is a later shorthand.

Open 报 →

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 →

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