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白金 (bái jīn) — platinum

Definition

Modern term for 'platinum' (the precious metal), more common than 铂 in everyday use. Historically it also referred to silver, but that sense is archaic.

noun
platinum

Examples

  • 白金，。
    Zhè tiáo xiàng liàn shì bái jīn zuò de, fēi cháng piào liang.
    This necklace is made of platinum, very beautiful.
  • 白金。
    bái jīn De jià gé bǐ huáng jīn gèng guì.
    The price of platinum is more expensive than gold.
  • 白金。
    Tā shēng rì shí shōu dào le yì méi bái jīn jiè zhi.
    She received a platinum ring for her birthday.

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.

白báiwhite
金jīnmetal

金 that is 白, a white precious metal.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

白 is thought to picture either an acorn or a human head.

Open 白 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

金 was drawn with marks for two pieces of metal, along with a part that gave its sound; it first meant copper, then metals and gold.

Open 金 →
Appears in
Materials & Substances

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