磁共振 (cí gòng zhèn) — magnetic resonance (as in MRI, magnetic resonan…

Definition

noun

magnetic resonance (as in MRI, magnetic resonance imaging)

磁共振。
Yī shēng jiàn yì wǒ zuò yí cì cí gòng zhèn jiǎn chá.
The doctor recommended I have an MRI scan.
磁共振。
cí gòng zhèn Chéng xiàng néng bāng zhù zhěn duàn nǎo bù jí bìng.
Magnetic resonance imaging can help diagnose brain diseases.
磁共振。
Zhè jiā yī yuàn yǒu yì tái zuì xīn de cí gòng zhèn shè bèi.
This hospital has the newest MRI equipment.

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.

磁címagnetic

共振resonance

偏正Modifier + head

磁 means magnetic, while 共 and 振 mean mutual vibration, together naming the resonance.

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.

石兹磁

Meaning part形符xíngfú

石石shírock; stone

Sound part声符shēngfú

兹

Same sound today

磁 is built from 石, meaning rock or stone, and 兹, which gives the sound.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

共 shows 廾, two hands, holding up an object. That object was written 口 and later became the 廿-like top.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

辰

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

振 pairs 手 (hand) with 辰: 手 shows it is about a hand action, and 辰 gives the sound.