Definition
芯 is a bound form (b.f.) — it cannot stand alone as a word and must combine with another morpheme to form a compound. Its core meaning is 'central part' or 'core', but the English translation depends on the compound: in 灯芯 it means 'wick', in 芯片 it means 'chip', and in 核心 it means 'core'. You'll also see it in 岩芯 (drill core) and 气门芯 (valve core).
b.f.
(bound form) corecentral part (e.g., 核心, 岩芯)(bound form) wickfuse (e.g., 灯芯, 引信)(bound form) chip (e.g., 芯片)
Examples
- ，。Zhège xīn piàn shì xīn de, sùdù hěn kuài.This chip is new and very fast.
- 芯，。Dēng xīn shāo wán le, xūyào huàn yì gēn.The wick has burned out and needs to be replaced.
- 芯。Zhè kuài cí xīn shì diànnǎo de zhòngyào bùjiàn.This magnetic core is an important component of the computer.
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