同步卫星 (tóng bù wèi xīng) — synchronous satellite

Definition

A satellite that orbits Earth at the same speed as Earth's rotation, so it stays above the same point (≈36,000 km up), used for communications and weather data.

noun
synchronous satellite
Measure word · 颗

Examples

  • 同步卫星。
    Fā shè tóng bù wèi xīng xū yào fēi cháng jīng què de jì shù.
    Launching a synchronous satellite requires very precise technology.
  • 同步卫星。
    tóng bù wèi xīng De guǐ dào gāo dù yuē wèi sān wàn liù qiān gōng lǐ.
    The orbital altitude of a synchronous satellite is about 36,000 kilometers.
  • 同步卫星。
    Qì xiàng yù bào cháng cháng yī kào tóng bù wèi xīng chuán huí de shù jù.
    Weather forecasts often rely on data transmitted by synchronous satellites.

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.

同步same step
同tóngsame步bùstep
偏正Modifier + head
卫星satellite
卫wèiescort星xīngstar
偏正Modifier + head

同步 (same step) + 卫星 (accompanying star) names a satellite that moves with Earth.

Characters in this word

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

同 originally drew a pipe. It is the old form of 筒.

Open 同 →

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

步 uses two 止 (foot) forms, one reversed, to show one foot stepping in front of the other.

Open 步 →

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 衛; 卫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíng
Sound part声符shēngfú
韋
韋wéi衛wèi
Same sound today

The traditional form 衛 is built from 行 as the sense part and 韋 as the sound part; the simplified 卫 is a shorthand.

Open 卫 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

Open 星 →

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