秒针 (miǎo zhēn) — second hand (of a clock or watch)

Definition

noun

second hand (of a clock or watch)

Measure word · 根

秒针。
Zhè zhī shǒu biǎo de miǎo zhēn zǒu dé hěn zhǔn.
The second hand of this watch runs very accurately.
秒针。
Tā dīng zhe miǎo zhēn děng le yì fēn zhōng.
He stared at the second hand and waited for one minute.
秒针。
miǎo zhēn Měi zhuǎn yì quān jiù shì liù shí miǎo.
Every time the second hand goes around, that's sixty seconds.

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.

针zhēnneedle; hand

The 针 that counts 秒 is the second hand on a clock.

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.

禾少秒

Meaning part形符xíngfú

禾禾hécereal; grain

Sound part声符shēngfú

少

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The form 秒 pairs 禾, a cereal or grain plant, with 少 giving the sound.

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 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

釒十針

Meaning part形符xíngfú

釒Written in full as金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

十

十shí針zhēn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.