电流 (diàn liú) — electric current | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

electric current

电流。
Zhè zhǒng jīn shǔ de diàn liú hěn qiáng.
This metal has a very strong electric current.
电流。
Wǒ men xū yào cè liáng diàn lù zhōng de diàn liú.
We need to measure the electric current in the circuit.
电流。
Ān quán shǐ yòng diàn qì shí yào zhù yì diàn liú de dà xiǎo.
When using electrical appliances safely, pay attention to the magnitude of the electric current.

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diànelectricity

“电” means electricity and “流” means flow, together electric current.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

㐬

㐬㐬流liú

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

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

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