滚筒 (gǔn tǒng) — (cylinder) a hollow, cylindrical object, often used as a container or part of machinery; (roller) a rotating cylindrical component in machines such as washing machines, printing presses, or conveyors

Definition

A technical noun for a cylinder or roller — a hollow or rotating cylindrical part used in machines (washing machines, printers) or as a container. Students will mostly meet it as a compound component (滚筒式).

noun
(cylinder) a hollow, cylindrical object, often used as a container or part of machinery(roller) a rotating cylindrical component in machines such as washing machines, printing presses, or conveyors
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 滚筒，。
    Zhè tái xǐ yī jī yòng de shì gǔn tǒng shì shè jì, xǐ dé gèng gān jìng.
    This washing machine uses a drum-type design, which washes cleaner.
  • 滚筒。
    Gōng chǎng lǐ de gǔn tǒng kě yǐ yā píng jīn shǔ bǎn.
    The rollers in the factory can flatten metal sheets.
  • 滚筒。
    Zhè ge gǔn tǒng de zhí jìng yǒu wǔ shí lí mǐ.
    The diameter of this cylinder is fifty centimeters.

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.

滚gǔnrolling
筒tǒngtube

“滚” describes rolling and “筒” is a cylindrical object, naming a rolling cylinder.

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 滾; 滚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
袞
袞gǔn滾gǔn
Same sound today

The traditional form 滾 pairs 水 (water) with 袞, which supplies the pronunciation. The simplified 滚 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical 袞.

Open 滚 →

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
𥫗Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
同
同tóng筒tǒng
Same sound today

The bamboo part 竹 marks 筒 as a bamboo tube, and 同 gives its sound.

Open 筒 →

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