电镀 (diàn dù) — to electroplate

Definition

Technical/industrial verb meaning 'to electroplate' — using electric current to coat a metal object with a thin layer of another metal (e.g. chrome, gold).

verb
to electroplate

Examples

  • 电镀。
    Zhè jiā gōng chǎng zhuān mén wèi shǒu biǎo diàn dù biǎo ké.
    This factory specializes in electroplating watch cases.
  • 电镀。
    Zhè ge jīn shǔ biǎo miàn jīng guò diàn dù hòu biàn de hěn liàng.
    After electroplating, this metal surface becomes very shiny.
  • 电镀。
    Tā sòng gěi wǒ yí gè diàn dù guò de xiǎo lǐ wù.
    He gave me a small electroplated gift.

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
镀dùplate

电 refers to electric current and 镀 to coating, so it describes plating by electricity.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鍍; 镀 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
度
度dù鍍dù
Same sound today

The traditional form 鍍 pairs 金 (metal) with 度 as a sound part; the simplified 镀 is a later shorthand.

Open 镀 →

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