陆海空 (lù hǎi kōng) — land, sea, and air

Definition

Refers to the three domains of military or transport operations: land (陆), sea (海), and air (空). Used as a modifier or set phrase (e.g. 陆海空三军, 陆海空运输).

noun
landseaand air

Examples

  • 陆海空。
    Sān jūn bāo kuò lù hǎi kōng sān gè bīng zhǒng.
    The three armed forces include the land, sea, and air branches.
  • 陆海空。
    Zhè cì yǎn xí fù gài le lù hǎi kōng quán yù.
    This exercise covered the entire land, sea, and air area.
  • 陆海空。
    Wù liú gōng sī tí gōng lù hǎi kōng yùn shū fú wù.
    The logistics company provides land, sea, and air transport services.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

陆lùland
海hǎisea
空kōngair

陆, 海, and 空 name land, sea, and air, so together they cover all three domains.

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 陸; 陆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
坴
坴lù陸lù
Same sound today

The traditional form 陸 uses 阝 (written in full as 阜) for the meaning and 坴 for the sound; the simplified 陆 is a later shorthand.

Open 陆 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
每
每měi海hǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.

Open 海 →

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
穴穴xuécave, hole
Sound part声符shēngfú
工
工gōng空kōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

空 is built from 穴, a cave or hole, and 工, which gives the sound.

Open 空 →

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