管道 (guǎn dào) — pipeline; tubing; (fig.) channel; avenue | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

管道 is literally a pipe/pipeline for fluids. Figuratively it means a formal channel or procedure, closer to 途径 than to 渠道 (which is broader — any means, including informal).

noun

pipelinetubing(fig.) channelavenue

Measure word · 条

Examples

管道。
Zhè tiáo guǎn dào bǎ shuǐ sòng dào měi jiā.
This pipeline delivers water to every household.
管道。
Tā men tōng guò zhèng shì guǎn dào tí chū shēn qǐng.
They submitted their application through formal channels.
管道。
Gōng rén zhèng zài pū shè xīn de guǎn dào.
Workers are laying new pipelines.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

道dàochannel

管 (pipe) and 道 (channel) together mean a tube or channel for carrying things.

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.

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.

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

行行xíngstreet

止止zhǐfoot

Sound part声符shēngfú

𩠐

首shǒu道dào

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

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Appears in

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