小型化 (xiǎo xíng huā) — miniaturization; the process of making something smaller in scale or size

Definition

Noun for the process of shrinking something — devices, components, technology — to a much smaller size. Collocates with 技术 (技术) and is a written/technical term, not everyday speech.

noun
miniaturizationthe process of making something smaller in scale or size

Examples

  • 小型化。
    Diàn zǐ chǎn pǐn de xiǎo xíng huā ràng shǒu jī yuè lái yuè qīng biàn.
    The miniaturization of electronic products makes phones lighter and more portable.
  • 小型化。
    xiǎo xíng huā Jì shù shì wèi lái zhì zào yè de zhòng yào fāng xiàng.
    Miniaturization technology is an important direction for future manufacturing.
  • 小型化，。
    Suí zhe xiǎo xíng huā de fā zhǎn, yī liáo shè bèi biàn de gèng fāng biàn xié dài.
    With the development of miniaturization, medical devices have become more portable.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

小型small type
小xiǎosmall型xíngtype
偏正Modifier + head
化huàbecome

小 means small and 型 means type, while 化 shows the process of becoming that kind.

Characters in this word

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

  • 八八bāto divide; to separate
  • 丨丨gǔnsmall object

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

Open 小 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
刑
刑xíng型xíng
Same sound today

型 pairs 土 (earth) with 刑, which supplies the sound; the shape shows an earthen mold, hence form or pattern.

Open 型 →

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.