月相 (yuè xiāng) — (astronomy) phase of the moon, lunar phase

Definition

Astronomy term for the moon's changing shape as seen from Earth (new moon, full moon, etc.), driven by its orbital position.

noun

(astronomy) phase of the moonlunar phase

月相。
Jīn tiān de yuè xiāng shì mǎn yuè.
Today's lunar phase is a full moon.
月相。
Bù tóng de yuè xiāng duì cháo xī yǒu yǐng xiǎng.
Different lunar phases affect the tides.
月相。
Tā zhèng zài yán jiū yuè xiāng de biàn huà guī lǜ.
He is studying the patterns of lunar phase changes.

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.

相xiāngappearance

月 and 相 give the phase or appearance of the moon.

Characters in this word

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

月 was drawn as a crescent moon, with the curved outline showing the moon’s shape.

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

木目相

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”