滑轮 (huá lún) — pulley | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

pulley

Measure word · 个

Examples

滑轮。
Tā yòng huá lún bǎ zhòng xiāng zi lā shàng qù le.
He used a pulley to pull the heavy box up.
滑轮。
Zhè ge huá lún xì tǒng tè bié shěng lì.
This pulley system is especially labor-saving.
滑轮。
Wǒ zài wǎng shàng mǎi le yí gè xīn huá lún.
I bought a new pulley online.

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.

滑huárolling

滑 (rolling) and 轮 (wheel) together mean a rolling wheel, a pulley.

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

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

骨

骨gǔ滑huá

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

滑 pairs 水 (water) with 骨, which gives the sound.

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 輪; 轮 is its simplified writing.

車侖輪

Meaning part形符xíngfú

車車jūcarriage

Sound part声符shēngfú

侖

侖lún輪lún

Same sound today

The traditional form 輪 uses 車, a carriage, and 侖 for the sound; the simplified 轮 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

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