轴线 (zhóu xiàn) — (geometry, mechanics) axis; (mechanics) axle; spool (for thread, cotton, etc.)

Definition

noun
(geometry, mechanics) axis(mechanics) axlespool (for thread, cotton, etc.)
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 轴线。
    Zhè tiáo xiàn shì tú xíng de zhóu xiàn.
    This line is the axis of the figure.
  • 轴线。
    Chē de lún zi zhuāng zài zhóu xiàn shàng.
    The wheels of the car are mounted on the axle.
  • 轴线。
    Tā bǎ xiàn rào zài zhóu xiàn shàng.
    She winds the thread around the spool.

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.

轴zhóuaxle
线xiànline

轴 (axle) and 线 (line) combine to mean the central line of an axle.

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 軸; 轴 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcart, carriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
由
由yóu軸zhóu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 軸 pairs 車 (cart) with a part that gives the sound, 由; it pictures an axle passing through a cartwheel. The simplified 轴 is a later abbreviation.

Open 轴 →

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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