聚乙烯 (jù yǐ xī) — polyethylene (a common plastic material) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

polyethylene (a common plastic material)

Examples

聚乙烯。
Zhè zhǒng jù yǐ xī dài zi hěn jiē shi.
This kind of polyethylene bag is very sturdy.
聚乙烯。
jù yǐ xī Shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de sù liào cái liào.
Polyethylene is a common plastic material.
聚乙烯。
Gōng chǎng yòng jù yǐ xī shēng chǎn gè zhǒng chǎn pǐn.
The factory uses polyethylene to produce various products.

Origin

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

乙烯

乙yǐeth-烯xīene

偏正Modifier + head

聚 means poly-, 乙 means eth-, and 烯 means ene; together they form polyethylene.

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.

取乑聚

Meaning part形符xíngfú

乑乑yínthree men

Sound part声符shēngfú

取

取qǔ聚jù

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

聚 is built from 取, which gives the sound, and 乑, drawn as three men, to show people coming together.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The origin of 乙 is obscure, with old suggestions including a plant trying to sprout, a fish's intestine or gill bone, or flowing water.

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

火希烯

Meaning part形符xíngfú

火火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

希

希xī烯xī

Same sound today

烯 pairs 火 (fire) with 希, which gives the sound.

Appears in

Materials & Substances

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