钻塔 (zuàn tǎ) — derrick (drilling tower)

Definition

钻塔 (zuàn tǎ) is the tall metal derrick/tower used at oil and gas drilling sites to support the drilling equipment and pipe.

noun

derrick (drilling tower)

Measure word · 座

钻塔。
Gōng rén men zhèng zài jiàn zào yí zuò xīn de zuàn tǎ.
The workers are building a new derrick.
钻塔。
zuàn tǎ De gāo dù chāo guò wǔ shí mǐ.
The drilling tower is over fifty meters tall.
钻塔。
Zhè tái zuàn tǎ kě yǐ zuān dào dì xià sān qiān mǐ.
This derrick can drill three thousand meters underground.

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.

钻 gives drilling, and 塔 gives the tower structure.

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 鑽; 钻 is its simplified writing.

釒贊鑽

Meaning part形符xíngfú

釒Written in full as金jīn

Sound part声符shēngfú

贊

贊zàn鑽zuàn

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

The traditional form 鑽 pairs 釒 (metal) with 贊, which gives the sound; the simplified 钻 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

土荅塔

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

荅

荅dá塔tǎ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

塔 shows 土 (earth) for the meaning and 荅 (dá) for the sound.