陨石坑 (yǔn shí kēng) — impact crater (formed by a meteorite)

Definition

noun

impact crater (formed by a meteorite)

Measure word · 个

陨石坑。
Zhè ge yǔn shí kēng zhí jìng yuē yǒu liǎng gōng lǐ.
This impact crater is about two kilometers in diameter.
陨石坑。
Kē xué jiā zài yuè qiú biǎo miàn fā xiàn le xǔ duō yǔn shí kēng.
Scientists have discovered many impact craters on the lunar surface.
陨石坑。
Nà ge gǔ lǎo de yǔn shí kēng yǐ jīng bèi zhí bèi fù gài le.
That ancient impact crater has already been covered by vegetation.

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.

陨石meteorite

偏正Modifier + head

陨石 (meteorite) + 坑 (pit) is a pit made by a meteorite.

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 隕; 陨 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

𨸏𨸏𨸏

Sound part声符shēngfú

員

員yuán隕yǔn

Same sound today

The traditional form 隕 combines 𨸏 with the sound component 員; the simplified 陨 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

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

The shape of 石 shows a stone under a cliff-like overhang, or a cave set into a cliff side.

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

亢土坑

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔsoil

Sound part声符shēngfú

亢

亢kàng坑kēng(r)

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

The current form 坑 uses 土 (soil) for the meaning and 亢 for the sound.