长机 (zhǎng jī) — lead aircraft (in a military formation) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

The lead aircraft in a military formation, commanding the group. It pairs with 僚机 (the wingman that follows it).

noun

lead aircraft (in a military formation)

Measure word · 架

Examples

，长机。
Zài biān duì fēi xíng zhōng, zhǎng jī fù zé zhǐ huī qí tā fēi jī.
In formation flight, the lead aircraft is responsible for directing the other planes.
长机，。
Liáo jī bì xū jǐn gēn zhǎng jī, bǎo chí duì xíng.
The wingman must closely follow the lead aircraft and maintain formation.
长机。
zhǎng jī Yǔ liáo jī zhī jiān de pèi hé shì kōng zhàn de guān jiàn.
The coordination between the lead aircraft and the wingman is key in air combat.

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.

长chángleader

机jīaircraft

长 means leader, and 机 names the aircraft.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 長; 长 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 長 pictures an old man with long hair. The simplified 长 is a later shorthand, so its strokes do not show that original picture.

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

木几机

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree; wood

Sound part声符shēngfú

几

几jǐ机jī

Same sound today

The left part is 木 (tree; wood), and the right part 几 gives the sound.

Appears in

Air Travel Military & Defense

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