胶卷 (jiāo juǎn) — roll film, photographic film (for cameras)

Definition

noun

roll filmphotographic film (for cameras)

Measure word · 卷

胶卷。
Wǒ qù mǎi yí juàn jiāo juǎn.
I'm going to buy a roll of film.
胶卷。
Tā bǎ jiāo juǎn zhuāng jìn xiàng jī lǐ le.
He loaded the film into the camera.
胶卷。
Zhè juàn jiāo juǎn yǐ jīng pāi wán le.
This roll of film is already used up.

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.

胶 points to the film material, and 卷 shows it comes as a roll.

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 膠; 胶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat; flesh

Sound part声符shēngfú

翏

翏liù膠jiāo

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

The traditional form 膠 pairs ⺼ (meat; flesh) with 翏, which gives the sound.

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

卩卩jiékneeling person

Sound part声符shēngfú

𢍏

𢍏𢍏卷juàn

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

In 卷, 卩 shows a kneeling person, while 𢍏 gives the sound and may also suggest bending or rolling, as in a reel of books.

Appears in