环形 (huán xíng) — ring-shaped, annular; (geometry) annulus | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

adjective

ring-shapedannular(geometry) annulus

Examples

环形。
Zhè tiáo huán xíng gōng lù lián jiē le chéng shì de gè gè bù fen.
This ring road connects all parts of the city.
环形。
Shè jì shī cǎi yòng le huán xíng de tú àn lái zhuāng shì tiān huā bǎn.
The designer used a ring-shaped pattern to decorate the ceiling.
，环形。
Zài jǐ hé xué zhōng, huán xíng de miàn jī děng yú wài yuán jiǎn nèi yuán.
In geometry, the area of an annulus equals the outer circle minus the inner circle.

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.

环 gives ring and 形 gives shape, giving a ring-shaped form.

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 環; 环 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

睘

睘qióng環huán

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

The traditional form 環 pairs 玉 (jade) with a sound part; the simplified 环 is a shorthand and its right side is not the historical sound part.

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

彡彡shān

Sound part声符shēngfú

井

井jǐng形xíng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

形 is made from 彡 and 井, with 井 providing the sound.

Appears in

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