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胶质 (jiāo zhì) — gluey, gelatinous

Definition

Describes a substance with a sticky, jelly-like texture (胶质纤维 'gelatinous fibers', 胶质成分 'gelatinous components'). Functions as a modifier of 物质 or 成分, similar to 胶状 in scientific contexts.

adjective
glueygelatinous

Examples

  • 胶质。
    Zhè zhǒng jiāo zhì wù zhì cháng yòng yú shí pǐn jiā gōng.
    This gelatinous substance is often used in food processing.
  • 胶质。
    Hǎi zǎo zhōng hán yǒu fēng fù de jiāo zhì chéng fèn.
    Seaweed contains abundant gelatinous components.
  • 胶质。
    Pí fū lǐ de jiāo zhì xiān wéi néng bǎo chí tán xìng.
    The gluey fibers in the skin maintain elasticity.

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.

胶jiāoglue
质zhìsubstance

胶 gives glue and 质 gives substance, describing a glue-like substance.

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.

Open 胶 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 質; 质 is its simplified writing.

  • 斦斦yín
  • 貝貝bèi

The traditional form 質 is made up of 貝 and 斦; this describes 質, not the simplified 质.

Open 质 →
Appears in
Materials & Substances

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