宫颈癌 (gōng jǐng ái) — cervical cancer

Definition

noun
cervical cancer

Examples

  • 宫颈癌。
    Dìng qī jiǎn chá kě yǐ zǎo qī fā xiàn gōng jǐng ái.
    Regular check-ups can detect cervical cancer early.
  • 宫颈癌。
    gōng jǐng ái Shì nǚ xìng jiàn kāng de yí dà wēi xié.
    Cervical cancer is a major threat to women's health.
  • 宫颈癌。
    Jiē zhòng yì miáo néng yǒu xiào yù fáng gōng jǐng ái.
    Vaccination can effectively prevent cervical cancer.

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.

宫颈cervix
宫gōnguterus颈jǐngneck
偏正Modifier + head
癌áicancer

宫 gives 'uterus' and 颈 gives 'neck', together 'cervix'; 癌 gives 'cancer'.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 宮; 宫 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀mián
  • 呂呂lǚ

The traditional form 宮 is built from 宀 and 呂.

Open 宫 →

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 頸; 颈 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng頸gěng
Same sound today

The traditional form 頸 uses 頁, head, to show the meaning, and 巠 to give the sound; the simplified 颈 is a later shorthand.

Open 颈 →

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
疒疒nèdisease
Sound part声符shēngfú
嵒
嵒yán癌
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

癌 combines 疒 (disease) with 嵒, a component used for its sound.

Open 癌 →

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