新能源 (xīn néng yuán) — new energy | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

新能源 refers specifically to renewable/clean energy sources (solar, wind, etc.), with the modifier 新 marking it as a new category. Plain 能源 is the general term for any energy resource; 核能 is one specific type of energy.

noun

new energy

Examples

新能源。
Zhèng fǔ dà lì zhī chí xīn néng yuán de fā zhǎn.
The government strongly supports the development of new energy.
新能源。
Xǔ duō qì chē zhì zào shāng kāi shǐ yán fā xīn néng yuán qì chē.
Many car manufacturers have started developing new energy vehicles.
新能源。
Shǐ yòng xīn néng yuán kě yǐ jiǎn shǎo duì huán jìng de wū rǎn.
Using new energy can reduce environmental pollution.

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.

新xīnnew

能源energy source

能néngenergy源yuánsource

偏正Modifier + head

新 (new) + 能源 (energy source) refers to newly developed energy sources.

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.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

斤斤jīn

Sound part声符shēngfú

辛

辛xīn新xīn

Same sound today

The shape originally paired 斤, for chopping wood, with 辛 for sound. It was borrowed for its sound to write 新, so the chopping-wood parts are unrelated to 'new'.

Open 新 →

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

能 is an old picture of a bear, showing two paws and a face with an open mouth.

Open 能 →

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

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

原

原yuán源yuán

Same sound today

源 combines 水 (water) and 原 (origin): 水 points to water, and 原 gives the sound.