紫外 (zǐ wài) — ultraviolet | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

adjective

ultraviolet

，。
Tài yáng fā chū zǐ wài xiàn, duì rén tǐ yǒu shāng hài.
The sun emits ultraviolet rays, which are harmful to the human body.
。
Zhè ge yǎn jìng néng zǔ dǎng zǐ wài guāng.
These glasses can block ultraviolet light.
紫外。
Hěn duō hù fū pǐn dōu biāo yǒu zǐ wài fáng hù zhǐ shù.
Many skincare products are labeled with a UV protection factor.

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.

紫 refers to violet, and 外 means outside or beyond; together they describe the rays beyond violet.

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.

此糸紫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

此

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

紫 is made of 糸, a silk-related part, and 此, which gives the sound cǐ.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

月

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

外 pairs 卜 with 月, a crescent moon; in its older form, the 卜 part had a horizontal bar extending outward, giving the sense of outside.