呼吸系统 (hū xī xì tǒng) — respiratory system

Definition

noun
respiratory system

Examples

  • 呼吸系统、。
    hū xī xì tǒng Bāo kuò bí zi, hóu long hé fèi.
    The respiratory system includes the nose, throat, and lungs.
  • 呼吸系统。
    Xī yān duì hū xī xì tǒng shāng hài hěn dà.
    Smoking does great harm to the respiratory system.
  • 呼吸系统。
    Yùn dòng néng zēng qiáng hū xī xì tǒng de gōng néng.
    Exercise can strengthen the function of the respiratory system.

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.

呼吸breathing
呼hūexhale吸xīinhale
联合Side by side
系统system
系xìsystem统tǒngsystem
联合Side by side

呼 means exhale and 吸 means inhale, the two actions of breathing, while 系统 names the connected whole.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
乎
乎hū呼hū
Same sound today

呼 uses 口 (mouth) to show exhaling, calling, or shouting, and 乎 gives the sound.

Open 呼 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí吸xī
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

吸 pairs 口 (mouth) with 及, which gives the sound and relates to grabbing, so the shape suggests grabbing through the mouth.

Open 吸 →

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

系 is made by putting together 手 (hand) and 糸 (silk).

Open 系 →

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 統; 统 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
充
充chōng統tǒng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 統 uses 糸 as a meaning part and 充 as a sound part; the simplified 统 is a later shorthand, so this story is about 統, not about 统's parts.

Open 统 →

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