细菌 (xì jūn) — bacterium; germ | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

bacteriumgerm

Measure word · 种

Examples

细菌。
Qín xǐ shǒu kě yǐ jiǎn shǎo xì jūn de chuán bō.
Frequent handwashing can reduce the spread of bacteria.
细菌。
Zhè zhǒng xì jūn duì rén tǐ wú hài.
This kind of bacterium is harmless to the human body.
细菌。
Shí yàn shì lǐ xū yào xiǎo xīn chǔ lǐ xì jūn.
Bacteria need to be handled carefully in the lab.

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.

细 (tiny) and 菌 (germ) combine to name a very small germ, a bacterium.

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 細; 细 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

囟

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

艹囷菌

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎo

Sound part声符shēngfú

囷

囷qūn菌jūn

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

The top 艹 is a plant sign, and the lower 囷 gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Biology

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