宇宙射线 (yǔ zhòu shè xiàn) — cosmic ray

Definition

noun
cosmic ray

Examples

  • 宇宙射线。
    Lái zì tài kōng de yǔ zhòu shè xiàn duì dì qiú yǒu yǐng xiǎng.
    Cosmic rays from space have an effect on Earth.
  • 宇宙射线。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū yǔ zhòu shè xiàn de lái yuán.
    Scientists are studying the source of cosmic rays.
  • 宇宙射线。
    Zhè ge yí qì kě yǐ jiǎn cè yǔ zhòu shè xiàn.
    This instrument can detect cosmic rays.

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.

宇宙universe
宇yǔspace宙zhòutime
联合Side by side
射线rays
射shèradiate线xiànline
偏正Modifier + head

宇宙 (universe) joins with 射线 (rays) to mean rays from outer space.

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miánhouse
Sound part声符shēngfú
于
于yú宇yǔ
Same sound today

宇 pairs 宀, a roof-like shape connected with house parts such as eaves, with 于, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 宇 →

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
由
由yóu宙zhòu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

宙 combines 宀 (roof) with 由, which gives the sound. The reference says it originally meant the farthest place accessible by boat or vehicle and later vast space.

Open 宙 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 射, the left part comes from 弓 (bow) and 矢 (arrow), and the right part comes from a hand drawing the bowstring.

Open 射 →

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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