地质 (dì zhì) — geology | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

地质 (dìzhì) is geology — the study of the Earth's structure and materials. Often confused with 地理 (geography, dìlǐ), which focuses on landforms, climate, and human geography.

noun

geology

Examples

地质地质。
Tā yán jiū dì zhì yǐ jīng yán jiū dì zhì èr shí nián le.
He has been studying geology for twenty years.
地质。
Zhè lǐ de dì zhì tiáo jiàn shì hé jiàn dì tiě.
The geological conditions here are suitable for building a subway.
地质。
Wǒ bì yè hòu zài yì jiā dì zhì gōng sī gōng zuò.
After graduation, I work at a geology company.

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.

质zhìsubstance

地 refers to the earth, and 质 to its substance or structure; together they name geology.

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.

土也地

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

也

也yě地dì

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 質; 质 is its simplified writing.

斦貝質

斦斦yín
貝貝bèi

The traditional form 質 is made up of 貝 and 斦; this describes 質, not the simplified 质.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Science (General)

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