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黑匣子 (hēi xiá zi) — black box (flight recorder)

Definition

Literally 'black box', the colloquial name for a flight data recorder — actually painted bright orange (usually) so it can be found after a crash, despite the name.

noun
black box (flight recorder)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 黑匣子。
    Fēi jī shàng de hēi xiá zi jì lù le fēi xíng shù jù.
    The black box on the airplane records flight data.
  • 黑匣子。
    Diào chá rén yuán zhǎo dào le shī shì fēi jī de hēi xiá zi.
    Investigators found the black box of the crashed plane.
  • 黑匣子。
    hēi xiá zi Tōng cháng bèi tú chéng chéng sè yǐ biàn xún zhǎo.
    Black boxes are usually painted orange to make them easier to find.

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.

黑hēiblack
匣子box
匣xiábox子zǐsuffix
后缀Suffix

The 匣子 is a box-like device, and 黑 describes its appearance.

Characters in this word

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

The shape of 黑 seems to come from drawing a head marked with dots, usually read as facial tattoos.

Open 黑 →

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
匚匚fāng
Sound part声符shēngfú
甲
甲jiǎ匣xiá
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

匣 uses 匚 to show the idea of a box or case, and 甲 to give the sound.

Open 匣 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Air TravelTechnology & Engineering

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