横断面 (héng duàn miàn) — cross section; transverse section

Definition

noun

cross sectiontransverse section

横断面。
Zhè zhāng tú zhǎn shì de shì qiáo de héng duàn miàn.
This diagram shows the cross section of the bridge.
横断面。
Yī shēng yán jiū le xuè guǎn de héng duàn miàn.
The doctor studied the transverse section of the blood vessel.
横断面。
Dì zhì xué jiā cǎi jí le yán céng de héng duàn miàn yàng běn.
The geologist collected a cross-section sample of the rock layer.

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.

横héngtransverse

断面cut surface

偏正Modifier + head

横 means transverse, 断 means cut, and 面 is a surface, naming a transverse cut surface.

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 橫; 横 is its simplified writing.

木黃橫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùwood

Sound part声符shēngfú

黃

黃huáng橫héng

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

The traditional form 橫 has 木, meaning wood, beside 黃, which supplies the sound; the simplified 横 is a later abbreviation.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

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

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.