覆盖面 (fù gài miàn) — coverage (media, insurance, network, etc.)

Definition

noun

coverage (media, insurance, network, etc.)

覆盖面。
Zhè jiā méi tǐ de fù gài miàn hěn guǎng.
This media outlet's coverage is very broad.
覆盖面。
Zhè ge bǎo xiǎn de fù gài miàn bāo kuò yì wài shāng hài.
This insurance coverage includes accidental injury.
覆盖面。
Zhè ge dì qū de shǒu jī xìn hào fù gài miàn bù hǎo.
The mobile signal coverage in this area is poor.

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.

覆盖cover

联合Side by side

覆 and 盖 both mean cover, and 面 means surface or area; together they name the area covered.

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

襾襾yà

Sound part声符shēngfú

復

復fù覆fù

Same sound today

覆 pairs 襾, a part connected to the meaning, with 復, which gives the sound.

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 蓋; 盖 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艸艸cǎograss

Sound part声符shēngfú

盍

盍hé蓋gài

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

The traditional form 蓋 pairs 艸, grass, with 盍 for sound. It was a thatch, and it took on cover meanings after 盍 was borrowed for “why not”.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.