寻的 (xún dì) — (attr.) homing; target-seeking

Definition

寻的 (xún dì) is an attributive adjective used mainly in military/technical contexts to describe a missile or weapon that actively tracks a target. Almost always appears in compounds like 寻的导弹 ('homing missile').

adjective
(attr.) homingtarget-seeking

Examples

  • 寻的。
    Zhè zhǒng dǎo dàn cǎi yòng le xiān jìn de xún dì jì shù.
    This missile uses advanced homing technology.
  • 寻的。
    xún dì Xì tǒng néng gòu zì dòng zhuī zōng mù biāo.
    The homing system can automatically track the target.
  • 寻的。
    Tā men zhèng zài yán fā xīn yí dài de xún dì wǔ qì.
    They are developing a new generation of homing weapons.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

寻xúnseek
的detarget

寻 (seek) and 的 (target) combine to mean seeking a target.

Characters in this word

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

寻 is formed from 又 (hand) and 寸 (hand).

Open 寻 →

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
白白báiwhite
Sound part声符shēngfú
勺
勺sháo的de
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

的 pairs 白, related to white or brightness, with 勺, which gives a clue to the sound. Its older form 旳 meant bright.

Open 的 →

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