虚线 (xū xiàn) — dotted line, dashed line; (mathematics) imagina…

Definition

noun

dotted linedashed line(mathematics) imaginary line

Measure word · 条

虚线。
Qǐng yán zhe xū xiàn jiǎn kāi.
Please cut along the dotted line.
虚线。
Zhè tiáo xū xiàn dài biǎo fǔ zhù xiàn.
This dashed line represents an auxiliary line.
，虚线。
Zài jǐ hé zhōng, xū xiàn biǎo shì bù kě jiàn de biān jiè.
In geometry, an imaginary line represents an invisible boundary.

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.

虚xūempty/imaginary

虚, meaning empty or imaginary, combines with 线 to describe a dotted or imaginary line.

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 虛; 虚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

虍

虍hū虛xū

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 虛 pairs the upper 虍, which gives the sound, with a lower part shaped like 丘, 'hill'; the simplified 虚 is a later shorthand.

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

糹泉線

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糹Written in full as糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

泉

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

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.