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磁性 (cí xìng) — magnetism

Definition

noun
magnetism

Examples

  • 磁性。
    Zhè kuài cí tiě yǒu hěn qiáng de cí xìng.
    This magnet has very strong magnetism.
  • 磁性。
    Jīn shǔ zài cí xìng zuò yòng xià huì yí dòng.
    Metal moves under the effect of magnetism.
  • 磁性。
    cí xìng Shì wù lǐ xué de yí gè zhòng yào gài niàn.
    Magnetism is an important concept in physics.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

磁címagnetic
性xìngproperty

Magnetic and property combine to name the quality of being magnetic.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shírock; stone
Sound part声符shēngfú
兹
兹zī磁cí
Same sound today

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

Open 磁 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →
Appears in
Physics & Chemistry

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