线粒体 (xiàn lì tǐ) — mitochondrion

Definition

noun
mitochondrion
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 线粒体。
    xiàn lì tǐ Shì xì bāo zhōng chǎn shēng néng liàng de zhòng yào jié gòu.
    Mitochondria are important structures in cells that produce energy.
  • 线粒体。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū xiàn lì tǐ de gōng néng.
    Scientists are studying the function of mitochondria.
  • 线粒体。
    Yùn dòng kě yǐ zēng jiā xiàn lì tǐ de shù liàng.
    Exercise can increase the number of mitochondria.

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.

线粒thread-like granule
线xiànthread粒lìgranule
偏正Modifier + head
体tǐbody

线 means thread, 粒 means granule, and 体 means body, so the sense is a thread-like granular body.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
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.

Open 线 →

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 體; 体 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
骨骨gǔbone
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ體tǐ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 體 pairs 骨 (bone) with 豊 as a sound part; this note is about 體, not about the parts of 体.

Open 体 →

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