寄主 (jì zhǔ) — host (of a parasite) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

host (of a parasite)

Measure word · 个

Examples

寄主。
Zhè zhǒng jì shēng chóng de jì zhǔ shì niǎo lèi.
The host of this parasite is birds.
寄主。
Kē xué jiā yán jiū le jì zhǔ yǔ jì shēng chóng de guān xì.
Scientists studied the relationship between the host and the parasite.
寄主。
Mǒu xiē bìng dú zhǐ néng gǎn rǎn tè dìng de jì zhǔ.
Certain viruses can only infect specific hosts.

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.

寄jìparasitic

「寄」parasitic and「主」host mean the host of a parasite.

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.

宀奇寄

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánhouse

Sound part声符shēngfú

奇

奇qí寄jì

Same sound today

The 宀 part shows a roof, and 奇 gives the sound. Together they point to staying or lodging away from home.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Appears in

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