线形 (xiàn xíng) — thread-like; string-like

Definition

adjective

thread-likestring-like

Easily confused

线形。
Zhè zhǒng xiàn xíng jié gòu chéng zhòng néng lì hěn qiáng.
This kind of thread-like structure has strong load-bearing capacity.
线形。
Xiǎn wēi jìng xià kě yǐ kàn dào xiàn xíng xì bāo.
Under the microscope, you can see thread-like cells.
线形。
Shān zhōng yǒu hěn duō xiàn xíng wù tǐ.
There are many thread-like objects in the mountains.

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.

线 gives the idea of a thread or line, and 形 gives shape, together describing a thread-like form.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

糹泉線

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糹Written in full as糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

泉

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

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

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

彡彡shān

Sound part声符shēngfú

井

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

形 is made from 彡 and 井, with 井 providing the sound.