电筒 (diàn tǒng) — flashlight | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

flashlight

Measure word · 个

Examples

电筒。
Wǒ bǎ diàn tǒng fàng zài bēi bāo lǐ le.
I put the flashlight in my backpack.
电筒。
Zhè ge diàn tǒng de diàn chí kuài méi diàn le.
This flashlight's battery is almost dead.
。
Wǎn shàng chū mén jì de dài diàn tǒng.
Remember to bring a flashlight when you go out at night.

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) and 筒 (tube) name a small electric lamp shaped like a tube.

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.

𥫗同筒

Meaning part形符xíngfú

𥫗Written in full as竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

同

同tóng筒tǒng

Same sound today

The bamboo part 竹 marks 筒 as a bamboo tube, and 同 gives its sound.

Appears in

Everyday Objects

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.