生物碱 (shēng wù jiǎn) — alkaloid (naturally occurring organic compound,…

Definition

noun

alkaloid (naturally occurring organic compound, often nitrogen-containing, with pharmacological effects)

Measure word · 种

生物碱。
Xǔ duō zhí wù dōu hán yǒu shēng wù jiǎn.
Many plants contain alkaloids.
生物碱。
Zhè zhǒng shēng wù jiǎn kě yǐ yòng yú zhì liáo jí bìng.
This alkaloid can be used to treat diseases.
生物碱。
Kā fēi yīn shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de shēng wù jiǎn.
Caffeine is a common alkaloid.

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.

生物living things

偏正Modifier + head

生物 refers to living things, and 碱 to alkali, naming an alkali-like substance found in organisms.

Characters in this word

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

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

牛勿物

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

勿

Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

僉

僉qiān碱

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

碱 combines 石 (stone) with 僉, which gives the pronunciation. The 石 part points to stone.