警笛声 (jǐng dí shēng) — sound of a siren (police, ambulance, or fire en… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

sound of a siren (police, ambulance, or fire engine)

Examples

警笛声。
Yuǎn chù chuán lái yí zhèn jǐng dí shēng.
A siren sound came from afar.
警笛声。
jǐng dí shēng Yuè lái yuè jìn le.
The siren sound is getting closer and closer.
警笛声，。
Tīng dào jǐng dí shēng, dà jiā gǎn jǐn ràng lù.
Hearing the siren sound, everyone quickly made way.

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.

警笛siren

警jǐngpolice笛díwhistle

偏正Modifier + head

警笛 gives the siren, and 声 gives the sound it makes.

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.

敬言警

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yánspoken language, speech

Sound part声符shēngfú

敬

Same sound today

警 places 言 (speech) below 敬; 敬 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

竹由笛

Meaning part形符xíngfú

竹竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

由

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

笛 pairs 竹 (bamboo) with 由 as a sound part. The bamboo part shows the object is made of bamboo.

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 聲; 声 is its simplified writing.

殸耳聲

Meaning part形符xíngfú

耳耳ěrear

Sound part声符shēngfú

殸

殸qìng聲shēng

Same sound today

The traditional form 聲 pairs 耳 (ear) with 殸 as a sound part; the simplified 声 is a shorthand and does not show those original parts.

Appears in

Crime & Police Senses

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