射电 (shè diàn) — (attributive) radio- (in astronomy and astrophy…

Definition

Attributive 'radio-' used only in astronomy and astrophysics — e.g. 射电望远镜 (radio telescope), not everyday radio broadcasting.

adjective

(attributive) radio- (in astronomy and astrophysics contexts)

射电。
shè diàn Wàng yuǎn jìng kě yǐ guān cè dào yáo yuǎn de xīng xì.
Radio telescopes can observe distant galaxies.
射电。
Kē xué jiā lì yòng shè diàn jì shù yán jiū yǔ zhòu de qǐ yuán.
Scientists use radio technology to study the origin of the universe.
射电。
Zhè zuò shè diàn tiān wén tái wèi yú piān yuǎn de shān qū.
This radio observatory is located in a remote mountainous area.

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.

电diànelectricity

射 gives the idea of radiating, and 电 names electricity or waves, yielding the sense of radio.

Characters in this word

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

In 射, the left part comes from 弓 (bow) and 矢 (arrow), and the right part comes from a hand drawing the bowstring.

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 電; 电 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

雨雨yǔrain

Sound part声符shēngfú

申

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

For the traditional form 電, 雨 (rain) sits with 申, read shēn and meaning lightning.