芳香剂 (fāng xiāng jì) — aromatic agent; aromatic substance (used for fragrance or as a medicine)

Definition

noun
aromatic agentaromatic substance (used for fragrance or as a medicine)
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 芳香剂。
    Zhè zhǒng fāng xiāng jì kě yǐ jìng huà kōng qì.
    This aromatic can purify the air.
  • 芳香剂。
    Yī shēng tuī jiàn le yì zhǒng tiān rán fāng xiāng jì.
    The doctor recommended a natural aromatic.
  • 芳香剂。
    Tā xǐ huan zài yù shì lǐ fàng yì xiē fāng xiāng jì.
    She likes to put some aromatics in the bathroom.

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.

芳香fragrant
芳fāngfragrant香xiāngfragrant
联合Side by side
剂jìagent/preparation

芳 and 香 give fragrance, and 剂 names the agent or preparation.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng芳fāng
Same sound today

芳 pairs 艸 (grass) with 方 (fāng); the 方 part gives the sound.

Open 芳 →

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

香's early form paired 黍 (glutinous millet) with 口 (mouth), perhaps showing millet drink being taken in or offered.

Open 香 →

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 劑; 剂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
齊
齊qí劑jì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In the traditional form 劑, 齊 gives the sound and 刂 (刀, a knife) shows the meaning. The simplified 剂 is a later shorthand.

Open 剂 →

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