跳闸 (tiào zhá) — (verb-object) (of a circuit breaker) to trip; (of a circuit) to cut out due to overload or fault

Definition

跳闸 (tiào zhá) is a verb-object phrase meaning an electrical circuit breaker trips or cuts out, usually from overload or a fault. It refers to the automatic safety action itself, not the cause.

verb
(verb-object) (of a circuit breaker) to trip(of a circuit) to cut out due to overload or fault

Examples

  • 跳闸，。
    Zuó tiān jiā lǐ tū rán tiào zhá le, yuán lái shì kōng tiáo gōng lǜ tài dà.
    The circuit tripped at home yesterday — turned out the air conditioner had too much power.
  • ，。
    Zhè ge yuè yǐ jīng tiào le liǎng cì zhá, dé zhǎo diàn gōng lái kàn kàn.
    It's already tripped twice this month — we need to get an electrician to check it.
  • 跳闸，。
    Rú guǒ zǒng tiào zhá, kě néng shì xiàn lù lǎo huà le.
    If it keeps tripping, the wiring might be aging.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

跳tiàotrip/jump
闸zhácircuit breaker

To 跳闸 is to 跳 a 闸, so a circuit breaker cuts out.

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
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
兆
兆zhào跳tiào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

跳 pairs 足 (foot) with 兆, which supplies the sound; the foot part shows the action is done with the feet.

Open 跳 →

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 閘; 闸 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門méngate
Sound part声符shēngfú
甲
甲jiǎ閘zhá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 閘 pairs 門 (gate) with 甲, which gives the sound; the simplified 闸 is not the form described here.

Open 闸 →

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