电码 (diàn mǎ) — telegraphic code | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

telegraphic code

Measure word · 个

Examples

电码。
Yǐ qián rén men yòng diàn mǎ fā sòng xìn xī.
In the past, people used telegraphic codes to send messages.
电码。
Xué xí diàn mǎ xū yào jì zhù hěn duō fú hào.
Learning telegraphic codes requires remembering many symbols.
电码。
Zhè ge diàn mǎ xì tǒng yǐ jīng guò shí le.
This telegraphic code system is already outdated.

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

“电” (electric/telegraphic) specifies the kind of “码” (code).

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.

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 碼; 码 is its simplified writing.

石馬碼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

石石shístone; rock

Sound part声符shēngfú

馬

馬mǎ碼mǎ

Same sound today

The traditional form 碼 pairs 石 (stone) with 馬 for its sound; the simplified 码 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

Phones & Telecom

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