About
The character "辐", traditionally written as "輻", is a phono-semantic compound formed from the radical "车" meaning vehicle and the phonetic component "畐", originally denoting the spokes of a wheel in classical Chinese. Its etymology firmly ties it to wheeled transport, with the semantic element consistently emphasizing its mechanical function, while the phonetic element provided its ancient pronunciation. The primary meaning of a wheel spoke has remained central over time, evident in historical compounds like "辐辏" which conveys the idea of elements gathering like spokes around a hub. In later usage, this concrete image of radial projection facilitated a semantic shift, allowing the character to form modern terms such as "辐射", where the concept of spokes radiating from a center is applied abstractly to phenomena like the propagation of heat or light. This evolution reflects a continuity in structural logic, where the character's components have supported both its literal and extended meanings without fundamental alteration.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
辐射无处不在。
辐条是车轮的一部分。
太阳发出热辐射。
核电站会产生辐射。
辐照技术用于食品保鲜。
气象学中有辐合和辐散的概念。
紫外线辐射对皮肤有伤害。
工程师仔细检查了车轮的每根辐条。