电表 (diàn biǎo) — electric meter (for measuring power consumption); electrical measuring instrument (such as ammeter, voltmeter, etc.)

Definition

noun
electric meter (for measuring power consumption)electrical measuring instrument (such as ammeter, voltmeter, etc.)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 电表。
    Wǒ jiā de diàn biǎo zhè ge yuè zǒu le sān bǎi dù diàn.
    My home's electric meter recorded 300 kilowatt-hours this month.
  • 电表。
    Diàn gōng yòng diàn biǎo jiǎn chá diàn lù shì fǒu zhèng cháng.
    The electrician uses a meter to check if the circuit is normal.
  • 电表。
    Xīn zhuāng de diàn biǎo bǐ jiù de gèng jīng què.
    The newly installed meter is more accurate than the old one.

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
表biǎometer

电 refers to electricity, and 表 gives a meter, yielding an instrument for measuring electrical use.

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.

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.

Open 表 →

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