法医 (fǎ yī) — forensic medical examiner; forensic pathologist

Definition

noun

forensic medical examinerforensic pathologist

Measure word · 个

Easily confused

法医。
fǎ yī Zhèng zài duì shī tǐ jìn xíng jiě pōu.
The forensic examiner is performing an autopsy on the body.
法医。
Zhè wèi fǎ yī zhèng yán zài fǎ tíng shàng qǐ le guān jiàn zuò yòng.
This forensic pathologist's testimony played a crucial role in court.
法医DNA。
Xǔ duō fǎ yī àn jiàn xū yào jiè zhù DNA jiàn dìng.
Many forensic cases require DNA analysis.

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.

法医 combines 法 (law) and 医 (doctor) to mean a legal/forensic doctor.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid

Sound part声符shēngfú

盍

盍hé法fǎ

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

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

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 醫; 医 is its simplified writing.

殹酉醫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

酉酉yǒuliquor

Sound part声符shēngfú

殹

殹yì醫yī

Same sound today

The traditional form 醫 pairs 酉 (liquor) with 殹 as a sound part; the simplified 医 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical ones.

Appears in