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微量元素 (wēi liàng yuán sù) — trace element (chemistry)

Definition

Refers to chemical elements that organisms need in very small amounts (e.g., iron, zinc, iodine). A technical term from chemistry and biology, not a casual word.

noun
trace element (chemistry)

Examples

  • 微量元素。
    Rén tǐ xū yào duō zhǒng wēi liàng yuán sù lái wéi chí jiàn kāng.
    The human body needs various trace elements to maintain health.
  • 微量元素，。
    Zhè zhǒng tǔ rǎng quē fá mǒu xiē wēi liàng yuán sù, yǐng xiǎng zuò wù shēng zhǎng.
    This soil lacks certain trace elements, affecting crop growth.
  • 微量元素。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū wēi liàng yuán sù zài hǎi yáng shēng tài xì tǒng zhōng de zuò yòng.
    Scientists are studying the role of trace elements in marine ecosystems.

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.

微量
微wēitiny量liángamount
偏正Modifier + head
元素
元yuánbasic素sùelement
联合Coordinate

微量 (tiny amount) and 元素 (element) combine to mean a trace element.

Characters in this word

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

The old form showed 𡵂 (a variant of 美, a person with long hair) and 攵 (a hand with a tool) splitting or combing hairs, hence minute; 微 later added 彳 to emphasize action.

Open 微 →

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

  • 日日rìsun
  • 東東dōngbag; east

量 has 日 (sun) over 東 (bag; east). Some explanations suggest measuring under the sun or the sun rising in the east, but the exact origin is unclear.

Open 量 →

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

The shape 元 shows a figure with two lines for a head, one connected to the body and one above it, emphasizing the head.

Open 元 →

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

The shape of 素 came from a picture of hands braiding thread.

Open 素 →
Appears in
Physics & Chemistry

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