广角 (guǎng jiǎo) — wide-angle (lens); panoramic view; (figuratively) broad perspective

Definition

Literally 'wide angle', used both for camera lenses and for an expansive, panoramic view or broad viewpoint. As a modifier, it pairs with 镜头 ('lens'); figuratively it describes a wide, inclusive perspective.

adjective
wide-angle (lens)panoramic view(figuratively) broad perspective

Examples

  • ，。
    Zhè kuǎn xiàng jī pèi yǒu guǎng jiǎo jìng tóu, shì hé pāi fēng jǐng.
    This camera comes with a wide-angle lens, suitable for landscapes.
  • 广角。
    Cóng shān dǐng shàng kě yǐ kàn dào guǎng jiǎo měi jǐng.
    From the top of the mountain you can see a panoramic view.
  • 广角。
    Wǒ men yào yǐ guǎng jiǎo de shì jiǎo kàn dài zhè ge wèn tí.
    We need to look at this issue from a broad perspective.

Origin

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.

广guǎngwide
角jiǎoangle

广 gives the sense of broad or wide, while 角 refers to angle; together they describe a wide-angle view.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 廣; 广 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
广广guǎng
Sound part声符shēngfú
黃
黃huáng廣guǎng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 廣 combines 广 (meaning part) with 黃 (sound part); the simplified 广 is a later shorthand, not the full historical shape.

Open 广 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 角 is a picture of a horn.

Open 角 →

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