TongTong
Sign in

温度计 (wēn dù jì) — thermometer

Definition

温度计 is the device that measures temperature (温度); 温度 is the temperature itself, 温度计 is the instrument for measuring it.

noun
thermometer
Measure word · 支

Examples

  • 温度计。
    Qǐng yòng wēn dù jì liáng yí xià tǐ wēn.
    Please use a thermometer to take your temperature.
  • 温度计。
    Zhè ge wēn dù jì hǎo xiàng bú tài zhǔn.
    This thermometer doesn't seem very accurate.
  • 温度计？
    Nǐ dài le wēn dù jì ma?
    Did you bring a thermometer?

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.

温度temperature
温wēnwarmth度dùdegree
偏正Modifier + head
计jìmeasuring device

温 gives warmth and 度 gives degree, while 计 gives a measuring device, so it is a thermometer.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 溫; 温 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 溫 is based on an older form 𥁕, which drew a person bathing in a container full of warm water. The simplified 温 is a later variant.

Open 温 →

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
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
石
石shí度dù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

Open 度 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 計; 计 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 計 pairs 言 (say) with 十 (all). The simplified 计 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical shape.

Open 计 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Miscellaneous Objects

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.