海图 (hǎi tú) — nautical chart, marine chart

Definition

A specialized map for sea navigation, showing depths, coastlines, hazards, and aids to navigation — used by mariners rather than for general geography.

noun
nautical chartmarine chart
Measure word · 张

Examples

  • 海图，。
    Chuán zhǎng zhèng zài yán jiū hǎi tú, guī huà háng xiàn.
    The captain is studying the nautical chart to plan the route.
  • 海图。
    Zhè zhāng hǎi tú biāo chū le suǒ yǒu àn jiāo de wèi zhì.
    This nautical chart marks the locations of all reefs.
  • 海图，。
    Xiàn dài hǎi tú yǐ jīng shù zì huà, kě yǐ zài píng mù shàng chá kàn.
    Modern nautical charts have been digitized and can be viewed on a screen.

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.

海hǎisea
图túchart

海 'sea' and 图 'chart' combine to mean a chart of the sea.

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
每
每měi海hǎi
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.

Open 海 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 圖; 图 is its simplified writing.

  • 囗囗wéiwalled city
  • 啚啚bǐ

The traditional form 圖 pairs 囗, a walled city, with 啚, an early form meaning remote areas or territory. The simplified 图 is a later abbreviation.

Open 图 →

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