针尖 (zhēn jiān) — point of a needle; pinpoint

Definition

Literally 'needle tip', 针尖 is used concretely for the sharp point of a needle, and figuratively in set phrases like 针尖对麦芒 ('diamond cut diamond') to mean a head-on clash.

noun
point of a needlepinpoint
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 针尖，。
    zhēn jiān Fēi cháng fēng lì, shǐ yòng shí yào xiǎo xīn.
    The needle point is very sharp; be careful when using it.
  • 针尖。
    Tā zài zhēn jiān shàng kè le yì háng zì.
    He carved a line of characters on the tip of a needle.
  • 针尖。
    Zhè ge wèn tí de dá àn jīng què dào le zhēn jiān.
    The answer to this question is precise to a pinpoint.

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.

针zhēnneedle
尖jiāntip

针 (needle) with 尖 (tip) names the point of a needle.

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 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒Written in full as金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
十
十shí針zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 针 →

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

尖 puts 小 (small) above 大 (large), showing the width of an object gradually changing from small to large.

Open 尖 →

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