超高压 (chāo gāo yā) — ultra-high pressure (physics); extra-high voltage (electrical engineering)

Definition

A compound covering two distinct technical domains: physics ('ultra-high pressure') and electrical engineering ('extra-high voltage'). The meaning is fixed by context — physics research vs power transmission.

noun
ultra-high pressure (physics)extra-high voltage (electrical engineering)

Examples

  • 超高压。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào zài chāo gāo yā huán jìng xià fēi cháng wěn dìng.
    This material is very stable under ultra-high pressure.
  • 超高压。
    chāo gāo yā Shū diàn xiàn lù xū yào dìng qī jiǎn chá.
    Extra-high voltage transmission lines need regular inspection.
  • 超高压。
    Kē xué jiā zài shí yàn shì lǐ zhì zào chū le chāo gāo yā.
    Scientists created ultra-high pressure in the lab.

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chāosuper
高压high pressure
高gāohigh压yāpressure
偏正Modifier + head

超 means beyond and 高压 means high pressure, giving ultra-high pressure.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

高 was drawn as a tall building.

Open 高 →

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 壓; 压 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔdust
Sound part声符shēngfú
厭
厭yàn壓yā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 壓 is built from 土, dust, and 厭, which gives the sound; 压 is the simplified form of 壓.

Open 压 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.