视窗 (shì chuāng) — (computing) window (graphical interface element)

Definition

A calque for 'window' as in a graphical interface element on a computer screen. Strongly associated with Microsoft's 视窗 (Windows) operating system, and more technical/literary than the everyday loanword 窗口.

noun
(computing) window (graphical interface element)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 视窗，。
    Qǐng guān bì zhè ge shì chuāng, rán hòu chóng xīn dǎ kāi chéng xù.
    Please close this window, then reopen the program.
  • 视窗。
    Wēi ruǎn shì chuāng xì tǒng zài quán qiú shǐ yòng hěn guǎng fàn.
    The Microsoft Windows system is widely used around the world.
  • 视窗。
    Zhè ge ruǎn jiàn zhī chí duō gè shì chuāng tóng shí cāo zuò.
    This software supports operating multiple windows at the same time.

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.

视shìvisual
窗chuāngwindow

"视" relates to seeing or display, and "窗" is a window-like area on a screen.

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 視; 视 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
示
示shì視shì
Same sound today

The story is about the traditional form 視: it combines 見, meaning see, with 示, which gives the sound shì.

Open 视 →

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

窗 combines 穴 (hole) with 囱 (window), giving the sense of an opening used as a window.

Open 窗 →

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