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巡航 (xún háng) — (of ships or aircraft) to cruise; to travel at a steady speed; cruise control (in vehicles)

Definition

A formal/technical verb meaning to cruise — ships, aircraft, or vehicles maintaining a steady cruising speed. Less common in everyday speech than the equivalent idea in casual contexts.

verb
(of ships or aircraft) to cruiseto travel at a steady speedcruise control (in vehicles)

Examples

  • 巡航。
    Zhè sōu jūn jiàn zhèng zài hǎi shàng xún háng.
    This warship is cruising at sea.
  • 巡航。
    Gāo sù gōng lù shàng kě yǐ kāi qǐ xún háng gōng néng.
    You can engage the cruise control function on the highway.
  • 巡航。
    Fēi jī yǐ jīng jì sù dù xún háng.
    The airplane is cruising at an economical speed.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

巡xúnpatrol
航hángnavigate

Both 巡 and 航 convey moving over water or air, giving the sense of cruising steadily.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
川
川chuān巡xún
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

巡 pairs 辵, a walking part, with 川 as a sound part.

Open 巡 →

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
舟舟zhōuboat
Sound part声符shēngfú
亢
亢kàng航háng
Same sound today

航 shows a boat with 舟, and 亢 gives the character its sound.

Open 航 →
Appears in
Travel & Tourism

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