定时炸弹 (dìng shí zhà dàn) — time bomb | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A literal 'time bomb' that explodes on a timer; also used figuratively for a hidden problem (a relationship, debt, illness) that will blow up if ignored.

noun

time bomb

Measure word · 颗

Examples

定时炸弹。
Jǐng chá fā xiàn le yì kē dìng shí zhà dàn.
The police found a time bomb.
定时炸弹，。
Zhè ge wèn tí jiù xiàng yì kē dìng shí zhà dàn, suí shí kě néng bào zhà.
This problem is like a time bomb that could explode at any moment.
定时炸弹。
Tā men de guān xì yǐ jīng biàn chéng le yì kē dìng shí zhà dàn.
Their relationship has become a time bomb.

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.

定时timed

定dìngset时shítime

动宾Verb + object

炸弹bomb

炸zhàexplode弹tánshell

偏正Modifier + head

“定” sets “时”, and “炸” explodes “弹”, so it is a bomb timed to go off.

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

正

正zhèng定dìng

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

定 is built from 宀 and 正, with 正 supplying the sound.

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 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

日日rìsun; day

Sound part声符shēngfú

之

之zhī時shí

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

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

弓單彈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

單

單dān彈tán

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

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a shorthand.

Appears in

Safety & Danger

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