紫外光 (zǐ wài guāng) — ultraviolet light

Definition

noun

ultraviolet light

紫外光。
zǐ wài guāng Kě yǐ yòng yú shā jūn xiāo dú.
Ultraviolet light can be used for sterilization and disinfection.
紫外光。
Zhè zhǒng cái liào néng xī shōu zǐ wài guāng.
This material can absorb ultraviolet light.
紫外光。
Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū zǐ wài guāng duì zhí wù de yǐng xiǎng.
Scientists are studying the effects of ultraviolet light on plants.

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.

紫外beyond purple

偏正Modifier + head

紫 means purple, 外 means outside, and 光 means light: light outside the purple part of the spectrum.

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.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 光 places 火 (fire) above 卩 (a kneeling person), showing fire over the head and the shining of light.