平行线 (píng xíng xiàn) — parallel lines

Definition

noun

parallel lines

Measure word · 条

，平行线。
Zài jǐ hé xué zhōng, píng xíng xiàn yǒng yuǎn bú huì xiāng jiāo.
In geometry, parallel lines never intersect.
平行线，。
Tā men de rén shēng xiàng liǎng tiáo píng xíng xiàn, méi yǒu jiāo jí.
Their lives are like two parallel lines that never intersect.
平行线。
Tiě guǐ shì liǎng tiáo píng xíng xiàn.
Railway tracks are two parallel lines.

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.

平行parallel

偏正Modifier + head

平 gives level or even, 行 gives running, and 线 is line, together parallel lines.

Characters in this word

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

The origin is uncertain. One explanation combines 八 (division) and 亏 (exhaled air) to show smooth speech.

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

彳亍行

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

糹泉線

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糹Written in full as糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

泉

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

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.