星际 (xīng jì) — interstellar; relating to space between stars (…

Definition

adjective

interstellarrelating to space between stars (used as an attributive modifier)

星际。
Rén lèi zhèng zài tàn suǒ xīng jì lǚ xíng.
Humans are exploring interstellar travel.
星际。
Zhè bù diàn yǐng jiǎng shù le xīng jì zhàn zhēng de gù shi.
This movie tells a story of interstellar war.
星际。
Kē xué jiā fā xiàn le xīng jì chén āi.
Scientists discovered interstellar dust.

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.

际jìspace/boundary

星 gives the idea of stars, and 际 gives the space around them, together meaning between stars.

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.

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

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 際; 际 is its simplified writing.

阝祭際

Meaning part形符xíngfú

阝Written in full as阜fù

Sound part声符shēngfú

祭

祭jì際⁰jì

Same sound today

The traditional form 際 pairs 阝 with 祭: 阝 gives the meaning and 祭 gives the sound. The simplified 际 is a later shorthand.

Appears in