烙铁 (lào tiě) — soldering iron; branding iron

Definition

Literally 'branding/soldering iron' — a heated metal tool. In modern usage it almost always means a soldering iron (electronics/repairs); the branding-iron sense is historical or specialized.

noun
soldering ironbranding iron
Measure word · 把

Examples

  • 烙铁。
    Tā yòng lào tiě bǎ diàn xiàn hàn hǎo le.
    He used a soldering iron to weld the wire.
  • 烙铁。
    Zhè bǎ lào tiě yòng le hěn duō nián le.
    This soldering iron has been used for many years.
  • 烙铁。
    Gǔ dài rén yòng lào tiě zài mù tou shàng miàn zuò jì hào.
    Ancient people used a branding iron to make marks on wood.

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.

烙làobrand/solder
铁tiěiron

“烙” indicates branding or soldering and “铁” names the iron tool.

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè烙lào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 火 is fire, showing that 烙 relates to heat or burning. The right part 各 gives the sound.

Open 烙 →

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 鐵; 铁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢧤
𢧤𢧤鐵tiě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鐵 pairs 金 (metal) with 𢧤 as a sound part; the simplified 铁 is a later shorthand.

Open 铁 →

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