电容器 (diàn róng qì) — capacitor (electronic component)

Definition

noun

capacitor (electronic component)

Measure word · 个

电容器。
Zhè ge diàn róng qì kě yǐ chǔ cún dà liàng diàn hè.
This capacitor can store a large amount of electric charge.
电容器。
Diàn lù bǎn shàng yǒu sān gè diàn róng qì xū yào gēng huàn.
There are three capacitors on the circuit board that need to be replaced.
电容器。
Tā zhèng zài yòng wàn yòng biǎo jiǎn cè diàn róng qì shì fǒu zhèng cháng.
He is using a multimeter to check whether the capacitor is working properly.

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.

电容electric capacity

偏正Modifier + head

电 means electricity, 容 means capacity, and 器 means a device; together they name a capacitor.

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 電; 电 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

雨雨yǔrain

Sound part声符shēngfú

申

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

For the traditional form 電, 雨 (rain) sits with 申, read shēn and meaning lightning.

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

宀宀mián

Sound part声符shēngfú

公

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

In 容, the 宀 (roof) part points to holding or containing, and 公 gives the sound.

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

The origin of 器 is uncertain; one traditional account reads the whole shape as a scene of guarding over four vessels.