调制解调器 (tiáo zhì jiě diào qì) — modem

Definition

noun
modem
Measure word · 台

Examples

  • 调制解调器，。
    Wǒ de tiáo zhì jiě diào qì huài le, shàng bù liǎo wǎng.
    My modem is broken, I can't get online.
  • 调制解调器。
    Zhè ge tiáo zhì jiě diào qì de sù dù hěn kuài.
    This modem's speed is very fast.
  • 调制解调器。
    Nǐ xū yào mǎi yí gè xīn tiáo zhì jiě diào qì.
    You need to buy a new modem.

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.

调制解调modulation and demodulation
调tiáomodulate制zhìcontrol解jiěundo调tiáomodulate
联合Side by side
器qìdevice

调制 and 解调 name modulating and demodulating; 器 is the device that does both.

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 →

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

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →

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 origin of 器 is uncertain; one traditional account reads the whole shape as a scene of guarding over four vessels.

Open 器 →

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