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电报 (diàn bào) — telegram, cable (message)

Definition

noun
telegramcable (message)
Measure word · 封

Examples

  • 电报。
    Wǒ shōu dào le yì fēng diàn bào.
    I received a telegram.
  • 电报。
    Tā yòng diàn bào tōng zhī le wǒ men.
    He notified us by telegram.
  • 电报。
    Zhè fēng diàn bào shì cóng běi jīng fā lái de.
    This telegram was sent from Beijing.

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.

电diànelectric
报bàoreport

电 conveys electric/telegraphic and 报 a report, together a telegram.

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
申shēn電diàn
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.

Open 电 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 報; 报 is its simplified writing.

  • 㚔㚔㚔handcuffs
  • 𠬝𠬝𠬝to subdue

The traditional form 報 puts 㚔 (handcuffs) beside 𠬝 (to subdue), showing someone restrained and subdued, as in convicting or punishing a guilty person. The simplified 报 is a later shorthand.

Open 报 →
Appears in
Phones & Telecom

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