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终端 (zhōng duān) — terminal (computer device); terminal (endpoint of a transportation line)

Definition

A technical/infrastructure word for a physical endpoint — a computer terminal or the terminus of a bus/train line. Unlike 终点 (abstract destination/finish line) or 最终 (the final stage of a process), 终端 refers to a concrete device or facility.

noun
terminal (computer device)terminal (endpoint of a transportation line)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 终端。
    Jī chǎng de zì zhù zhōng duān kě yǐ yòng dēng jī pái bàn lǐ dēng jī.
    You can check in at the airport's self-service terminal using your boarding pass.
  • 终端。
    Zhè tàng cháng tú qì chē de zhōng duān shì guǎng zhōu zhàn.
    The terminal for this long-distance bus is Guangzhou Station.
  • 终端。
    Huò wù huì zài zhōng duān xiè zài.
    The goods will be unloaded at the terminal.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

终zhōngend
端duānend

终 and 端 both refer to an end or point, giving the sense of a terminal endpoint.

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 終; 终 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
冬
冬dōng終zhōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 終 pairs 糸 (a cord) with 冬 as a sound part; the simplified 终 is a later shorthand. An older form showed a knot at the end of a cord.

Open 终 →

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
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
耑
耑zhuān端duān
Same sound today

端 is made by putting 立 beside 耑. The 立 part is connected to the meaning, and 耑 gives the sound.

Open 端 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Computers & Internet

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.