成像 (chéng xiàng) — (verb) to form an image; (noun) imaging | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A technical term meaning 'to form an image' or 'imaging' (e.g. in cameras, scanners, medical equipment). Usually appears in compounds like 成像技术.

verb

to form an image

noun

imaging

Examples

成像。
Zhè zhǒng xīn jì shù kě yǐ kuài sù chéng xiàng.
This new technology can quickly form images.
成像。
chéng xiàng Jì shù zài yī xué shàng yìng yòng hěn guǎng.
Imaging technology is widely used in medicine.
。
Zhè ge xiàng jī chéng le yí cì xiàng.
This camera formed an image once.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

成 'form' and 像 'image' together mean to form an image.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng成chéng

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

成 puts 戊, a weapon, beside 丁, which gives the sound. The weapon part relates to protection, as in the old sense of city walls.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻象像

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

象

Same sound today

像 uses 亻, the side form of 人 (person), with 象 giving the sound.

Appears in

Technology & Engineering

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