遗传物质 (yí chuán wù zhì) — genetic material

Definition

noun
genetic material

Examples

  • 遗传物质。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū zhè zhǒng bìng dú de yí chuán wù zhì.
    Scientists are studying the genetic material of this virus.
  • 遗传物质。
    Jī yīn biān jí jì shù kě yǐ gǎi biàn shēng wù tǐ de yí chuán wù zhì.
    Gene editing technology can change an organism's genetic material.
  • 遗传物质。
    Qīn zǐ jiàn dìng xū yào fēn xī fù mǔ hé hái zi de yí chuán wù zhì.
    Paternity testing requires analyzing the genetic material of the parents and child.

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.

遗传heredity
遗yípass on传chuántransmit
联合Side by side
物质material
物wùmatter质zhìsubstance
联合Side by side

遗传 (heredity) and 物质 (material) combine to mean material connected with heredity.

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 遺; 遗 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòmove
Sound part声符shēngfú
貴
貴guì遺yí
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 遺 pairs 辶 (move) with 貴 as a sound part; the simplified 遗 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the old sound part.

Open 遗 →

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 傳; 传 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān傳chuán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 傳 puts 人 (man) beside 專, which gives the sound; the simplified 传 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not the historical ones.

Open 传 →

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
牛牛niú
Sound part声符shēngfú
勿
勿wù物wù
Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

Open 物 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 質; 质 is its simplified writing.

  • 斦斦yín
  • 貝貝bèi

The traditional form 質 is made up of 貝 and 斦; this describes 質, not the simplified 质.

Open 质 →

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