循环系统 (xún huán xì tǒng) — circulatory system

Definition

noun
circulatory system

Examples

  • 循环系统
    Xīn zàng shì xún huán xì tǒng de hé xīn qì guān.
    The heart is the core organ of the circulatory system.
  • 循环系统
    Yùn dòng kě yǐ gǎi shàn xún huán xì tǒng de gōng néng.
    Exercise can improve the function of the circulatory system.
  • 循环系统
    Yī shēng jiǎn chá le tā de xún huán xì tǒng.
    The doctor examined his circulatory system.

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.

循环cycle
xúnfollowhuáncircle
联合Coordinate
系统system
systemtǒngsystem
联合Coordinate

循环 tells what kind of 系统 it is: a system that keeps moving around, like blood in the body.

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
chìmovement
Sound part声符shēngfú
dùnxún
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

循 has 彳 on the left, a part used for movement, and 盾 on the right, which gives the pronunciation.

Open 循 →

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 環; 环 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
jade
Sound part声符shēngfú
qiónghuán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 環 pairs 玉 (jade) with a sound part; the simplified 环 is a shorthand and its right side is not the historical sound part.

Open 环 →

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

系 is made by putting together 手 (hand) and 糸 (silk).

Open 系 →

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 統; 统 is its simplified writing.

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

The traditional form 統 uses 糸 as a meaning part and 充 as a sound part; the simplified 统 is a later shorthand, so this story is about 統, not about 统's parts.

Open 统 →

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