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行星 (xíng xīng) — planet

Definition

行星 specifically means 'planet' in astronomy (e.g., a planet orbiting a star). 星球 is broader, covering any celestial body like planets, stars, or moons.

noun
planet
Measure word · 颗

Examples

  • 行星。
    Kē xué jiā zài guān cè yì kē yáo yuǎn de xíng xīng.
    Scientists are observing a distant planet.
  • 行星。
    Zhè kē xíng xīng de biǎo miàn wēn dù fēi cháng dī.
    The surface temperature of this planet is very low.
  • 行星。
    Dì qiú shì tài yáng xì zhōng yì kē zhòng yào de xíng xīng.
    Earth is an important planet in the solar system.

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.

行xíngmoves
星xīngstar

行星 pictures a 星 (star) that 行 (moves), hence a planet.

Characters in this word

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

  • 彳彳chì
  • 亍亍chù

The shape of 行 originally showed a street intersection, even on both sides. Later it became uneven, with 彳 on the left and 亍 on the right.

Open 行 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

Open 星 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Sky & Space

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.