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探测器 (tàn cè qì) — detector; probe

Definition

noun
detectorprobe
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 探测器。
    Kē xué jiā yòng tàn cè qì tàn suǒ tài kōng.
    Scientists use detectors to explore space.
  • 探测器。
    Zhè ge tàn cè qì kě yǐ jiǎn cè huǒ zāi.
    This detector can detect fires.
  • 探测器。
    Xīn mǎi de tàn cè qì fēi cháng zhǔn què.
    The newly bought probe is very accurate.

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.

探测explore and measure
探tànexplore测cèmeasure
联合Coordinate
器qìinstrument

探 and 测 mean explore and measure, and 器 is an instrument, so it is a detecting device.

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
𥥍
𥥍𥥍探tàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 探, the 扌 part is a hand, and 𥥍 gives the sound.

Open 探 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 測; 测 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
則
則zé測cè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 測 combines 氵 (water) with 則 for the sound; it is explained as measuring the depth of water. The simplified 测 is a later shorthand.

Open 测 →

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

The origin of 器 is uncertain; one traditional account reads the whole shape as a scene of guarding over four vessels.

Open 器 →
Appears in
Technology & Engineering

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