声速 (shēng sù) — speed of sound | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

speed of sound

Examples

声速340。
shēng sù Zài kōng qì zhōng dà yuē shì měi miǎo 340 mǐ.
The speed of sound in air is about 340 meters per second.
声速。
Chāo yīn sù fēi jī de sù dù chāo guò le shēng sù.
Supersonic aircraft travel faster than the speed of sound.
声速。
Kē xué jiā yòng shí yàn cè liáng le shuǐ zhōng de shēng sù.
Scientists measured the speed of sound in water through experiments.

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.

声 gives the domain of sound, and 速 gives speed.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 聲; 声 is its simplified writing.

殸耳聲

Meaning part形符xíngfú

耳耳ěrear

Sound part声符shēngfú

殸

殸qìng聲shēng

Same sound today

The traditional form 聲 pairs 耳 (ear) with 殸 as a sound part; the simplified 声 is a shorthand and does not show those original parts.

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

辵辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

束

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

速 pairs 辵, the walking part, with 束, which is used for its sound; the walking part fits the meaning of moving fast.

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