打孔机 (dǎ kǒng jī) — perforator; puncher

Definition

noun
perforatorpuncher
Measure word · 台

Examples

  • 打孔机。
    Wǒ bàn gōng shì xū yào yì tái dǎ kǒng jī.
    My office needs a perforator.
  • 打孔机，。
    Zhè tái dǎ kǒng jī huài le, dǎ bù liǎo kǒng.
    This puncher is broken and can't punch holes.
  • 打孔机。
    Tā mǎi le yì tái xīn de dǎ kǒng jī.
    He bought a new puncher.

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.

打孔punch holes
打dǎpunch孔kǒnghole
动宾Verb + object
机jīmachine

打孔机 is a 机 that 打 孔, a machine for punching holes.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng打dǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

Open 打 →

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

  • 丿丿piěopening
  • 子子zǐchild

孔 pairs 丿 (an opening) with 子 (a child), showing an opening in a newborn's skull.

Open 孔 →

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
木木mùtree; wood
Sound part声符shēngfú
几
几jǐ机jī
Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Open 机 →

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