衍生物 (yǎn shēng wù) — (chemistry) derivative (a compound derived from another)

Definition

noun
(chemistry) derivative (a compound derived from another)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 衍生物。
    Zhè zhǒng yǎn shēng wù shì shí yóu huà gōng de zhòng yào chǎn wù.
    This derivative is an important product of the petrochemical industry.
  • 衍生物。
    Yán jiū rén yuán cóng zhí wù zhōng tí qǔ le yì zhǒng xīn yǎn shēng wù.
    The researchers extracted a new derivative from the plant.
  • 衍生物。
    Xǔ duō yào wù shì tiān rán huà hé wù de yǎn shēng wù.
    Many medicines are derivatives of natural compounds.

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.

衍生derive
衍yǎnextend生shēngproduce
联合Side by side
物wùthing

衍生, produce by extension, plus 物 makes a thing resulting from another.

Characters in this word

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

衍 is made from 行, a path or way to move, and 水, water.

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

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

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
牛牛niú
Sound part声符shēngfú
勿
勿wù物wù
Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

Open 物 →

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