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太空舱 (tài kōng cāng) — space capsule (crew module of a spacecraft); capsule (small enclosed sleeping unit in a capsule hotel)

Definition

'Space capsule' (the crew module of a spacecraft) and also 'capsule' as in a capsule hotel sleeping pod. Same word covers both senses — distinguish by context.

noun
space capsule (crew module of a spacecraft)capsule (small enclosed sleeping unit in a capsule hotel)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 太空舱。
    Shén zhōu fēi chuán de tài kōng cāng yǔ kōng jiān zhàn chéng gōng duì jiē.
    The space capsule of the Shenzhou spacecraft successfully docked with the space station.
  • 太空舱，。
    Zhè jiā lǚ guǎn de tài kōng cāng suī rán xiǎo, dàn shì hěn shū shì.
    This hotel's capsules are small but very comfortable.
  • 太空舱。
    Zhè ge tài kōng cāng mó nǐ qì ràng yóu kè tǐ yàn shī zhòng.
    This space capsule simulator lets visitors experience weightlessness.

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.

太空outer space
太tàiextreme空kōngsky
偏正Modifier + head
舱cāngcabin

太空 means the far sky or space, and 舱 names a small enclosed cabin.

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.

太 is a modified form of 大, with an extra dot added to show 'too big'.

Open 太 →

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
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

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 艙; 舱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
舟舟zhōuboat
Sound part声符shēngfú
倉
倉cāng艙cāng
Same sound today

The traditional form 艙 has 舟 (boat) and 倉, and 倉 is used for the sound. The simplified 舱 is a later shorthand.

Open 舱 →
Appears in
Space Exploration

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