安全阀 (ān quán fá) — safety valve (mechanical device that releases excess pressure); (figurative) outlet for releasing stress or tension

Definition

A literal mechanical device that releases excess pressure, plus a figurative use for a healthy outlet that lets stress or tension escape.

noun
safety valve (mechanical device that releases excess pressure)(figurative) outlet for releasing stress or tension
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 安全阀，。
    Guō lú shàng de ān quán fá huài le, xū yào mǎ shàng gēng huàn.
    The safety valve on the boiler is broken and needs to be replaced immediately.
  • 安全阀。
    Yùn dòng shì tā shì fàng yā lì de ān quán fá.
    Exercise is his safety valve for releasing stress.
  • 安全阀。
    Zhè ge xì tǒng ān zhuāng le sān gè ān quán fá yǐ què bǎo ān quán.
    This system has three safety valves installed to ensure safety.

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.

安全safe
安ānsafe全quáncomplete
联合Side by side
阀fávalve

安全 means safety and 阀 is a valve, so it names a valve that releases excess pressure.

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mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ安ān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 安, 宀 sits above a seated 女 on a cushion; 宀 is the meaning part, 女 is the sound part, and the character originally meant sitting at ease.

Open 安 →

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

The shape puts 入 together with 玉 to show a whole piece of jade, so it means complete or whole.

Open 全 →

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 閥; 阀 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門mén
Sound part声符shēngfú
伐
伐fá閥fá
Same sound today

The traditional form 閥 combines 門, a gate, with 伐 to give the sound; the simplified 阀 is a later shorthand.

Open 阀 →

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