转向灯 (zhuǎn xiàng dēng) — turn signal (on a vehicle)

Definition

A compound noun meaning 'turn signal' on a vehicle. The light used when turning or changing lanes.

noun
turn signal (on a vehicle)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 。
    Kāi chē de shí hou yào jì de dǎ zhuǎn xiàng dēng.
    When driving, remember to use your turn signal.
  • 。
    Qián miàn de chē méi yǒu dǎ zhuǎn xiàng dēng jiù guǎi wān le.
    The car ahead turned without signaling.
  • 转向灯，。
    Nǐ de zhuǎn xiàng dēng huài le, kuài qù xiū yí xià.
    Your turn signal is broken, go get it fixed quickly.

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.

转向turn direction
转zhuǎnturn向xiàngdirection
动宾Verb + object
灯dēnglight

转向 means to change direction, and 灯 is a light, so the thing is a light showing a vehicle's turn.

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 轉; 转 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān轉zhuǎn
Same sound today

The traditional form 轉 combines 車, a carriage, with 專 as a sound part; the simplified 转 is a later shorthand.

Open 转 →

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

向 originally drew 宀 (house) with 口 to show an echo in a place; later it was used for direction.

Open 向 →

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
火火huǒ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng灯dēng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

灯 pairs 火, which shows fire, with 丁, which gives the sound.

Open 灯 →

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