连锁反应 (lián suǒ fǎn yìng) — chain reaction

Definition

noun
chain reaction

Examples

  • 连锁反应。
    Zhè cì jīn róng wēi jī yǐn fā le yì lián chuàn de lián suǒ fǎn yìng.
    This financial crisis triggered a chain reaction.
  • ，连锁反应。
    Hé wù lǐ zhōng, lián suǒ fǎn yìng shì cháng jiàn xiàn xiàng.
    In nuclear physics, a chain reaction is a common phenomenon.
  • 连锁反应。
    Yí gè yáo yán kě néng yǐn qǐ zhěng gè shè qū de lián suǒ fǎn yìng.
    A rumor can cause a chain reaction throughout the community.

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.

连锁chain
连liánlink锁suǒchain
联合Side by side
反应response
反fǎnrespond应yìnganswer
联合Side by side

连锁 joins linked elements one after another, and 反应 is a response; it means a response spreading like a chain.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 連; 连 is its simplified writing.

  • 辶辵chuòto walk
  • 車車jūchariot

The traditional form 連 joins 辶 (walk) and 車 (chariot) to show a man-drawn carriage; this note is about 連, not the simplified 连.

Open 连 →

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 鎖; 锁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
𧴪
𧴪𧴪鎖suǒ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鎖 pairs 金 (metal) with a sound component, 𧴪; the simplified 锁 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the original parts.

Open 锁 →

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
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
厂
厂chǎng反fǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

反 uses 又 (hand) for meaning and 厂 for sound. Its original shape showed a hand turning its palm over, giving the sense of return or reverse.

Open 反 →

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 應; 应 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
䧹
䧹䧹應yìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 應 pairs 心 (heart) with 䧹 as a sound part; the simplified 应 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the original components.

Open 应 →
Appears in
Cause, Effect & LogicScience (General)

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