粒细胞 (lì xì bāo) — granulocyte

Definition

A type of white blood cell containing visible granules, key to the immune system. Used in medical/biological contexts.

noun
granulocyte

Examples

  • ，粒细胞。
    Yī shēng jiǎn chá le wǒ de xuè yè, fā xiàn lì xì bāo shù liàng zhèng cháng.
    The doctor examined my blood and found the granulocyte count normal.
  • 粒细胞。
    lì xì bāo Shì rén tǐ miǎn yì xì tǒng de zhòng yào zǔ chéng bù fen.
    Granulocytes are an important part of the human immune system.
  • 粒细胞。
    Zhè zhǒng yào wù kě yǐ zēng jiā lì xì bāo de shù liàng.
    This medication can increase the number of granulocytes.

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.

粒lìgranule
细胞cell
细xìsmall胞bāocell
偏正Modifier + head

粒 names a granule, while 细 small and 胞 cell make 细胞, together describing a granule-containing cell.

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
立
立lì粒lì
Same sound today

粒 pairs 米 (rice) with 立, which gives its pronunciation.

Open 粒 →

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 細; 细 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
囟
囟xìn細xì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 細 pairs 糸, silk or thread, with 囟 for the sound. The simplified 细 is a later shorthand, and the old right part changed shape.

Open 细 →

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
月Written in full as肉ròuflesh
Sound part声符shēngfú
包
包bāo胞bāo
Same sound today

胞 pairs 月 (flesh) with 包, a shape representing a pregnant figure, to point to the membrane enclosing a fetus.

Open 胞 →

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