合成纤维 (hé chéng xiān wéi) — synthetic fiber

Definition

noun
synthetic fiber
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 合成纤维。
    Zhè zhǒng hé chéng xiān wéi bǐ tiān rán xiān wéi gèng nài mó.
    This type of synthetic fiber is more wear-resistant than natural fiber.
  • 合成纤维。
    Xǔ duō yùn dòng fú zhuāng dōu cǎi yòng hé chéng xiān wéi zhì zuò.
    Many sportswear items are made from synthetic fibers.
  • 合成纤维。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán fā kě jiàng jiě de hé chéng xiān wéi.
    Scientists are developing biodegradable synthetic fibers.

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.

合成combine into
合héjoin成chéngform
补充Verb + complement
纤维fiber
纤xiānfine thread维wéithread
联合Side by side

合成 combines 合 and 成, while 纤维 uses 纤 and 维 for thread-like strands, giving the meaning of man-made thread material.

Characters in this word

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

合 shows 亼 and 口 arranged as two mouths speaking together.

Open 合 →

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
戊戊wù
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng成chéng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Open 成 →

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 纖; 纤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
韱
韱xiān纖qiàn
Same sound today

The traditional form 纖 uses 糸 for silk and 韱 for the sound; the simplified 纤 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 纤 →

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 維; 维 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
唯
唯wéi維wéi
Same sound today

In the traditional form 維, 糸 marks a thread meaning and 唯 provides the sound; the simplified 维 is a later shortened shape.

Open 维 →

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