指示灯 (zhǐ shì dēng) — indicator light, pilot light | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

indicator lightpilot light

Measure word · 个

Examples

指示灯。
Jī qì shàng de zhǐ shì dēng shì hóng sè de.
The indicator light on the machine is red.
指示灯。
Děng zhǐ shì dēng biàn lǜ zài àn àn niǔ.
Wait until the indicator light turns green, then press the button.
指示灯。
Zhè ge zhǐ shì dēng xiǎn shì shè bèi zhèng zài chōng diàn.
This indicator light shows that the device is charging.

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.

指示indicate

指zhǐpoint示shìshow

联合Side by side

指 and 示 mean point and show, describing a 灯 that indicates something.

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.

扌旨指

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

旨

旨zhǐ指zhǐ

Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 gives the sound.

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

示 began as a drawing of an altar. Extra strokes were added to keep it distinct from unrelated old forms.

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

火丁灯

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng灯dēng

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

灯 pairs 火, which shows fire, with 丁, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Technology & Engineering

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