空管 (kōng guǎn) — (noun) air traffic control; (verb) to conduct a… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Short for 空中交通管制: the noun 'air traffic control' (the service/systems) and the verb 'to do air traffic control'. Refers to the work, not the person — the controller is 空管员.

noun

air traffic control

verb

to conduct air traffic control

Examples

空管。
kōng guǎn Xì tǒng xū yào bú duàn shēng jí.
The air traffic control system needs continuous upgrades.
空管。
Tā shì yì míng kōng guǎn yuán.
He is an air traffic controller.
空管。
Jī chǎng de kōng guǎn gōng zuò fēi cháng fán máng.
The air traffic control work at the airport is very busy.

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.

管guǎncontrol

'空' (air) and '管' (control) mean control of air traffic.

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.

穴工空

Meaning part形符xíngfú

穴穴xuécave, hole

Sound part声符shēngfú

工

工gōng空kōng

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

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

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

竹官管

Meaning part形符xíngfú

竹竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

官

官guān管guǎn

Same sound today

管 has 竹 (bamboo) on top to show it relates to bamboo, and 官 gives its sound.

Appears in

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