海卫 (hǎi wèi) — (proper noun) Neptune's moon (abbreviation of 海…

Definition

Short form of 海王星卫星, used in scientific writing to refer to Neptune's moons (especially Triton).

noun

(proper noun) Neptune's moon (abbreviation of 海王星卫星)

Easily confused

海卫。
Tiān wén xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū hǎi wèi de biǎo miàn.
Astronomers are studying the surface of Neptune's moon.
海卫。
hǎi wèi Shì hǎi wáng xīng zuì dà de wèi xīng.
Neptune's moon is the largest satellite of Neptune.
海卫。
Kē xué jiā tōng guò wàng yuǎn jìng guān cè hǎi wèi.
Scientists observe Neptune's moon through telescopes.

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.

氵每海

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

每

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

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.

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 衛; 卫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

韋

韋wéi衛wèi

Same sound today

The traditional form 衛 is built from 行 as the sense part and 韋 as the sound part; the simplified 卫 is a shorthand.