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调制 (tiáo zhì) — (verb) to modulate (a signal, frequency, etc.); (verb) to mix, blend, or prepare by combining (ingredients, medicine, flavors)

Definition

A formal/technical verb with two main senses: in electronics it means to 'modulate' a signal; in food or medicine it means to mix or prepare a formula. For the mixing sense, think of it as the careful, professional side of 配.

verb
to modulate (a signal, frequency, etc.)to mixblendor prepare by combining (ingredients, medicine, flavors)

Examples

  • 调制。
    Zhè tái shè bèi yòng lái tiáo zhì xìn hào.
    This device is used to modulate signals.
  • 调制。
    Tā huā le bàn xiǎo shí tiáo zhì jiàng liào.
    She spent half an hour preparing the sauce.
  • 调制。
    Zhōng yī xū yào jīng què dì tiáo zhì yào fāng.
    Chinese medicine requires precise preparation of prescriptions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

调tiáoadjust
制zhìmake

调 means adjust or mix and 制 means make or prepare, so 调制 is to blend or set something up.

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 調; 调 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
周
周zhōu調tiáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 調 pairs 言 (speech) with 周, which shows how it was pronounced. The simplified 调 is a later shorthand.

Open 调 →

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

The form 制 pairs 朱 (tree) with 刀 (knife), showing the act of cutting a tree.

Open 制 →
Appears in
Cooking

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