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自动化 (zì dòng huà) — automation

Definition

A noun meaning 'automation' — the use of machines and systems to perform tasks without human control. Often appears in technical or industrial contexts (工厂自动化, 自动化系统).

noun
automation

Examples

  • 自动化。
    Gōng chǎng de zì dòng huà chéng dù yuè lái yuè gāo.
    The level of automation in the factory is getting higher and higher.
  • 自动化。
    Zhè tào zì dòng huà xì tǒng néng jié shěng dà liàng rén lì.
    This automation system can save a lot of manpower.
  • 自动化，。
    Suí zhe zì dòng huà de fā zhǎn, hěn duō chóng fù xìng gōng zuò bèi jī qì qǔ dài le.
    With the development of automation, many repetitive jobs have been replaced by machines.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

自动automatic
自zìself动dòngmove
偏正Modifier + head
化huàturn into

自动 means automatic; 化 turns that into the process of making things automatic.

Characters in this word

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →
Appears in
Technology & Engineering

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