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折射 (zhé shè) — (physics) to refract; refraction; (figurative) to reflect, to reveal (a deeper nature or truth)

Definition

Literally the physics term for light bending when it passes between media. Figuratively, it means something reveals or mirrors a hidden quality — more neutral/observational than 体现 (which emphasizes embodying a principle).

verb
(physics) to refractrefraction(figurative) to reflectto reveal (a deeper nature or truth)

Examples

  • 折射。
    Guāng xiàn tōng guò shuǐ miàn shí huì fā shēng zhé shè.
    Light rays refract when passing through a water surface.
  • 折射。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō zhé shè chū shè huì de xiàn shí wèn tí.
    This novel reflects the real problems of society.
  • 折射。
    Tā de tài dù zhé shè le tā nèi xīn de bù ān.
    His attitude revealed his inner unease.

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.

折zhébend
射shèproject

折 gives bending and 射 gives projecting, so the idea is light changing direction as it passes through.

Characters in this word

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

  • 屮𣏄𣏄a tree {{zh-m|*木}} cut in half
  • 斤斤jīnaxe

The shape originally showed an axe (斤) cutting a tree in half; in 折 the left part is now written as a hand.

Open 折 →

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

In 射, the left part comes from 弓 (bow) and 矢 (arrow), and the right part comes from a hand drawing the bowstring.

Open 射 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Physics & Chemistry

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