气垫 (qì diàn) — (noun) air cushion (shock-absorbing pad used in…

Definition

气 means 'air/gas' and 垫 means 'cushion/pad', so 气垫 literally names the physical thing. By extension it can also mean a hovercraft (short for 气垫船).

noun

air cushion (shock-absorbing pad used in shoes or packaging)inflatable air mattresshovercraft (short for 气垫船)

Measure word · 个

气垫。
Zhè shuāng xié de qì diàn fēi cháng róu ruǎn shū shì.
The air cushion in these shoes is very soft and comfortable.
。
Chéng zuò qì diàn chuán kě yǐ kuài sù dào dá hǎi dǎo.
You can quickly reach the island by hovercraft.
气垫，。
Tā men zài shā tān shàng fàng le yí gè qì diàn, zhǔn bèi xiū xi.
They put an air mattress on the beach and prepared to rest.

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.

垫diànpad; cushion

气 is air and 垫 is a pad or cushion, so the word means an air-filled cushion.

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

气米氣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

气

Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

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 墊; 垫 is its simplified writing.

執土墊

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

執

執zhí墊diàn

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

The traditional form 墊 pairs 土, showing earth, with 執, providing the sound; this is about 墊, not the simplified 垫.

Appears in