沉积岩 (chén jī yán) — sedimentary rock

Definition

noun
sedimentary rock
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 沉积岩。
    Zhè xiē chén jī yán shì zài gǔ dài hǎi dǐ xíng chéng de.
    These sedimentary rocks were formed on the ancient seafloor.
  • 沉积岩。
    chén jī yán Lǐ cháng cháng cáng yǒu huà shí.
    Fossils are often hidden in sedimentary rocks.
  • 沉积岩。
    Dì zhì xué jiā zài yán jiū zhè kuài chén jī yán de gòu zào.
    Geologists are studying the structure of this sedimentary rock.

Origin

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.

沉积sedimentation
沉chénsettle积jīaccumulate
联合Side by side
岩yánrock

The settling 沉 and building up 积 form a kind of rock 岩.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 沉 →

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 積; 积 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
責
責zé積jī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 積 pairs 禾 (grain) with 責, which gives the sound; the simplified 积 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 积 →

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 巖; 岩 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
山山shānmountain
Sound part声符shēngfú
嚴
嚴yán巖yán
Same sound today

The traditional form 巖 combines 山 (mountain) with 嚴, a part that gives the sound; the simplified 岩 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not the original parts.

Open 岩 →

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