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发电机 (fā diàn jī) — generator; dynamo

Definition

noun
generatordynamo
Measure word · 台

Examples

  • 发电机。
    Zhè tái fā diàn jī de gōng lǜ hěn dà.
    This generator has a lot of power.
  • ，发电机。
    Tíng diàn de shí hou, wǒ men yòng fā diàn jī gōng diàn.
    When the power goes out, we use a generator to supply electricity.
  • 发电机。
    Gōng chǎng xū yào yì tái bèi yòng fā diàn jī.
    The factory needs a backup generator.

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.

发电generate electricity
发fāgenerate电diànelectricity
动宾Verb + object
机jīmachine

发电 means generating electricity and 机 is a machine, together naming a generator.

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 →

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 電; 电 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
雨雨yǔrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn電diàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For the traditional form 電, 雨 (rain) sits with 申, read shēn and meaning lightning.

Open 电 →

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
Energy & Power

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