表盘 (biǎo pán) — dial, face (of a watch or meter)

Definition

noun

dialface (of a watch or meter)

Measure word · 块

表盘。
Zhè zhī shǒu biǎo de biǎo pán shè jì dé fēi cháng jīng zhì.
The dial of this watch is designed very exquisitely.
表盘。
Qì chē yí biǎo pán shàng de biǎo pán xiǎn shì le dāng qián sù dù.
The dial on the car dashboard shows the current speed.
表盘，。
Zhè ge jī qì de biǎo pán zhǐ zhēn yǒu diǎn wāi, xū yào xiū lǐ.
The dial pointer of this machine is a bit crooked and needs repair.

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.

表biǎowatch or meter

'表' names the instrument and '盘' the flat plate, giving the dial face.

Characters in this word

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

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.

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 盤; 盘 is its simplified writing.

般皿盤

Meaning part形符xíngfú

皿皿mǐn

Sound part声符shēngfú

般

Same sound today

The traditional form 盤 pairs 般, which gives the sound, with 皿, a vessel. This note is about 盤, not the simplified 盘.