字节 (zì jié) — byte

Definition

In computing, 字节 is the unit of data size — one byte equals 8 bits (位). In Chinese, 字节 literally means 'character-syllable,' which is why some sources also gloss it as 'syllable.'

noun
byte
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 字节。
    Yí gè zì jié děng yú bā wèi.
    One byte equals eight bits.
  • 字节。
    Měi gè yīng wén zì mǔ zhàn yòng yí gè zì jié.
    Each English letter takes up one byte.
  • 字节。
    Zhè duàn dài mǎ yǒu jǐ bǎi gè zì jié.
    This piece of code has several hundred bytes.

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.

字zìcharacter
节jiéunit

The sense of 字 'character' narrows 节 'unit' to a unit of stored characters.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

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 節; 节 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺮Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
即
即jí節jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 節 pairs ⺮ (bamboo) with 即, which gives the sound; the bamboo part points to a node of bamboo. The simplified 节 is a later abbreviation.

Open 节 →

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