超声波 (chāo shēng bō) — ultrasonic wave

Definition

noun
ultrasonic wave
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 超声波。
    Yī shēng yòng chāo shēng bō jiǎn chá bìng rén de shēn tǐ.
    Doctors use ultrasonic waves to examine patients' bodies.
  • 超声波。
    Zhè zhǒng shè bèi kě yǐ fā chū gāo pín lǜ de chāo shēng bō.
    This device can emit high-frequency ultrasonic waves.
  • 超声波。
    chāo shēng bō Qīng xǐ jì shù zài gōng yè shàng hěn cháng yòng.
    Ultrasonic cleaning technology is widely used in industry.

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.

超声
超chāobeyond声shēngsound
偏正Modifier + head
波bōwave

超 (beyond) and 声 (sound) together specify the type of 波 (wave).

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒurun
Sound part声符shēngfú
召
召zhào超chāo
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

超 pairs 走, meaning “run,” with 召, which gives the sound.

Open 超 →

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.

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.

Open 声 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí波bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 氵 is water, and the right side 皮 gives the sound.

Open 波 →
Appears in
Physics & Chemistry

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