遮光 (zhē guāng) — to block light, to shade; (attributive) light-blocking, blackout

Definition

Verb-object compound meaning 'to block light' (curtains, shutters, materials). Often used as an attributive modifier (遮光材料, 遮光窗帘) for 'light-blocking / blackout'.

verb
to block lightto shade(attributive) light-blockingblackout

Examples

  • 遮光。
    Zhè ge chuāng lián kě yǐ zhē guāng.
    This curtain can block the light.
  • 。
    Tā gěi chuāng hu zhē le yí cì guāng.
    He blocked the light from the window once.
  • 遮光。
    Zhè kuǎn zhē guāng cái liào xiào guǒ hěn hǎo.
    This light-blocking material is very effective.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

遮zhēblock
光guānglight

遮 covers or blocks, and 光 is light.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòroad
Sound part声符shēngfú
庶
庶shù遮zhē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

遮 has 辶, a road-like part, and 庶 (shù, 'numerous'), which gives it its sound.

Open 遮 →

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

  • 火火huǒfire
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

The shape 光 places 火 (fire) above 卩 (a kneeling person), showing fire over the head and the shining of light.

Open 光 →

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