电荷 (diàn hé) — electric charge

Definition

A physics term for 'electric charge' — the fundamental property of matter that produces electric and magnetic effects, existing as positive (正) or negative (负).

noun
electric charge

Examples

  • 电荷。
    diàn hé Yǒu zhèng fù liǎng zhǒng.
    Electric charge has two types: positive and negative.
  • 电荷。
    Dǎo tǐ zhōng de diàn hé kě yǐ zì yóu yí dòng.
    Charge in a conductor can move freely.
  • 电荷。
    Diàn liú shì diàn hé de dìng xiàng liú dòng.
    Electric current is the directional flow of charge.

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diànelectricity
荷héload

电 gives the electric kind, and 荷 is the load or charge.

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 →

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
艸艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
何
何hé荷hé
Same sound today

荷 has 艸, the grass/plant form, to show a plant, and 何 to give the sound.

Open 荷 →

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