透视 (tòu shì) — (art) perspective; (medicine) fluoroscopy, X‑ra… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A learned/technical word with three senses: 'perspective' in art, 'X-ray/fluoroscopy' in medicine, and a figurative 'penetrating insight' into a problem. The three senses are unrelated — context (art, medical, abstract) tells them apart.

noun

(art) perspective(medicine) fluoroscopyX‑ray examination(figurative) insightpenetrating understanding

Examples

透视。
Zhè fú huà yùn yòng le zhèng què de tòu shì fǎ.
This painting uses correct perspective.
透视。
Yī shēng jiàn yì tā zuò yí gè fèi bù tòu shì jiǎn chá.
The doctor recommended he have a lung X‑ray examination.
透视。
Tā duì zhè ge wèn tí yǒu hěn shēn de tòu shì.
He has deep insight into this issue.

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.

透tòuthrough

透 means through, and 视 means look, giving the sense of seeing through.

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

辵辵chuòwalking

Sound part声符shēngfú

秀

秀xiù透tòu

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape 透 has 辵, a walking part, and 秀, which provides the sound.

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 視; 视 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

見見jiànsee

Sound part声符shēngfú

示

示shì視shì

Same sound today

The story is about the traditional form 視: it combines 見, meaning see, with 示, which gives the sound shì.

Appears in

Art & Fine Arts Medicine & Treatment

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