地震波 (dì zhèn bō) — seismic wave

Definition

A scientific term for the energy waves (P-waves, S-waves, surface waves) that travel through the Earth during an earthquake — distinct from 海啸 (tsunami, a giant ocean wave).

noun
seismic wave

Examples

  • 地震波。
    Kē xué jiā tōng guò fēn xī dì zhèn bō lái yán jiū dì qiú nèi bù jié gòu.
    Scientists study the Earth's internal structure by analyzing seismic waves.
  • 地震波。
    Zhè cì dì zhèn de dì zhèn bō chuán bō dào le hěn yuǎn de dì fāng.
    The seismic waves from this earthquake traveled to very distant places.
  • 地震波。
    Yí qì jì lù dào le wēi ruò de dì zhèn bō.
    The instrument recorded faint seismic waves.

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.

地震earthquake
地dìearth震zhènshake
主谓Subject + predicate
波bōwave

A wave from earthquakes: 地震 names the phenomenon, 波 names the wave.

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
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.

Open 地 →

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
雨雨yǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
辰
辰chén震zhèn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

震 combines 雨 (rain) with 辰 (chén), which gives the sound; 雨 is the part associated with the character’s meaning.

Open 震 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí波bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 氵 is water, and the right side 皮 gives the sound.

Open 波 →

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