塔式 (tǎ shì) — tower-type (structure or design)

Definition

A noun meaning 'tower-type' or 'tower-style', used as a technical/architectural classifier for structures and designs shaped like a tower (e.g. 塔式起重机, 塔式结构).

noun
tower-type (structure or design)

Examples

  • 塔式。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù cǎi yòng tǎ shì jié gòu.
    This project uses a tower-type structure.
  • 塔式。
    tǎ shì Tǎ diào cháng yòng yú gāo céng jiàn zhù.
    Tower-type cranes are often used for high-rise buildings.
  • 塔式。
    Zhè zhǒng tǎ shì shè jì jì měi guān yòu shí yòng.
    This tower-type design is both beautiful and practical.

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.

塔tǎtower
式shìstyle

塔 gives tower and 式 gives style, together meaning tower-type.

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tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
荅
荅dá塔tǎ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

塔 shows 土 (earth) for the meaning and 荅 (dá) for the sound.

Open 塔 →

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
工工gōngwork
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì式shì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

式 pairs 工, meaning work, with 弋, which gives the sound.

Open 式 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.