时针 (shí zhēn) — hour hand (of a clock or watch)

Definition

The hour hand of a clock or watch — the shorter hand that points to the hour, distinct from 分针 (minute hand) and 秒针 (second hand).

noun

hour hand (of a clock or watch)

Measure word · 根

时针。
Xiàn zài shí zhēn zhǐ zài shí èr diǎn shàng.
Now the hour hand is pointing at twelve.
时针。
Zhè zhī shǒu biǎo de shí zhēn bú tài zhǔn.
This watch's hour hand isn't very accurate.
时针。
Kàn shí zhēn jiù zhī dào yǐ jīng xià wǔ sān diǎn le.
Looking at the hour hand tells you it's already three in the afternoon.

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.

时 (hour) and 针 (hand) form the pointer that indicates the hour.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

日日rìsun; day

Sound part声符shēngfú

之

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

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

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 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

釒十針

Meaning part形符xíngfú

釒Written in full as金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

十

十shí針zhēn

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

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.

Appears in