透镜 (tòu jìng) — lens (optical component)

Definition

noun

lens (optical component)

Measure word · 块

透镜？
Zhè ge tòu jìng de jiāo jù shì duō shǎo?
What is the focal length of this lens?
透镜。
Kē xué jiā yòng tòu jìng guān chá wēi xiǎo de shēng wù.
Scientists use lenses to observe tiny organisms.
透镜。
Tā mǎi le yí duì xīn de tòu jìng lái gēng huàn jiù xiàng jī shàng de.
He bought a pair of new lenses to replace the ones on his old camera.

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tòutransparent

镜jìngmirror/glass

透 means transparent, and 镜 names the glass-like optical piece.

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

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 鏡; 镜 is its simplified writing.

金竟鏡

Meaning part形符xíngfú

金金jīnmetal

Sound part声符shēngfú

竟

Same sound today

The traditional form 鏡 puts 金, metal, next to 竟 to give the sound. The simplified 镜 is a later shorthand.