固体 (gù tǐ) — solid | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

固体 is the scientific term for 'solid' as a state of matter (冰, 石头). Don't confuse with 坚固/坚硬 ('hard, sturdy' — describing an object's physical property), or with 立体 ('three-dimensional').

noun

solid

Examples

，固体。
Zài wù lǐ xué zhōng, gù tǐ shì wù zhì de yì zhǒng zhuàng tài.
In physics, a solid is a state of matter.
固体。
Dōng tiān de bīng shì yì zhǒng gù tǐ.
Ice in winter is a solid.
固体。
Mù tou hé shí tou dōu shì cháng jiàn de gù tǐ.
Wood and stone are common solids.

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.

固 (solid) and 体 (body) describe a solid body.

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.

囗古固

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéi

Sound part声符shēngfú

古

古gǔ固gù

Same sound today

固 combines 囗, which relates to the meaning, with 古, which gives the sound.

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 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

骨豊體

Meaning part形符xíngfú

骨骨gǔbone

Sound part声符shēngfú

豊

豊lǐ體tǐ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Materials & Substances Physics & Chemistry

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