观测站 (guān cè zhàn) — observation station

Definition

noun
observation station
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 观测站，。
    Zhè ge guān cè zhàn jiàn zài gāo shān shàng, yòng lái guān cè xīng xing.
    This observation station is built on a high mountain to observe stars.
  • 观测站。
    Qì xiàng guān cè zhàn měi tiān jì lù wēn dù hé shī dù.
    The weather observation station records temperature and humidity every day.
  • 观测站。
    Kē yán rén yuán yǐ jīng dào dá le nán jí de guān cè zhàn.
    The researchers have already reached the observation station in Antarctica.

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.

观测observation
观guānobserve测cèmeasure
联合Side by side
站zhànstation

"观" and "测" combine observing and measuring, and "站" names the station for that work.

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 觀; 观 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn觀guān
Same sound today

The traditional form 觀 uses 見 (see) for meaning and 雚 for sound.

Open 观 →

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 測; 测 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
則
則zé測cè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 測 combines 氵 (water) with 則 for the sound; it is explained as measuring the depth of water. The simplified 测 is a later shorthand.

Open 测 →

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
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn站zhàn
Same sound today

站 has 立 on the left and 占 on the right; 立 relates to standing, and 占 gives the sound.

Open 站 →

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