水电站 (shuǐ diàn zhàn) — hydroelectric power station

Definition

noun

hydroelectric power station

Measure word · 座

水电站。
Zhè ge shuǐ diàn zhàn jiàn zài yì tiáo dà hé páng biān.
This hydroelectric station is built next to a large river.
水电站。
shuǐ diàn zhàn Wèi fù jìn de chéng shì tí gōng diàn lì.
The hydroelectric station provides electricity for nearby cities.
水电站。
Zhè zuò shuǐ diàn zhàn yǐ jīng yùn xíng le èr shí nián.
This hydroelectric station has been operating for twenty years.

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.

水电hydroelectric power

偏正Modifier + head

水电站 pairs 水 and 电 for hydroelectric power with 站 for station.

Characters in this word

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

水 is a simple drawing of water flowing.

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 電; 电 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

雨雨yǔrain

Sound part声符shēngfú

申

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

For the traditional form 電, 雨 (rain) sits with 申, read shēn and meaning lightning.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

立占站

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

占

Same sound today

站 has 立 on the left and 占 on the right; 立 relates to standing, and 占 gives the sound.