轨

軌

guǐ

九 + 车

Definitions

guǐ (noun) track; rail

guǐ (noun) course; path

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 九 represents the sound. Simplified form of 軌.

Semantic: 车 Phonetic: 九

About

轨 is a phono-semantic compound, the simplified form of 軌. It combines the semantic component 車 (simplified to 车), meaning 'cart' or 'vehicle', with the phonetic component 九 (jiǔ), which indicates the sound. The semantic component points directly to the original meaning: the ruts or wheel tracks left by carts on dirt roads. From this literal sense, the character's meaning extended figuratively to any path, orbit, or trajectory, and further to rules, standards, or established norms of conduct, evoking the image of a cart compelled to follow the ruts before it.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

火车在轨道上行驶。

Huǒchē zài guǐdào shang xíngshǐ.

The train is running on the track.

铁轨通向远方。

Tiěguǐ tōng xiàng yuǎnfāng.

The railway track leads to the distance.

卫星的轨迹很稳定。

Wèixīng de guǐjì hěn wěndìng.

The satellite's trajectory is very stable.

昨天火车出轨了。

Zuótiān huǒchē chūguǐ le.

The train derailed yesterday.

工作回到正轨。

Gōngzuò huí dào zhèngguǐ.

The work is back on track.

这条铁路的轨距很标准。

Zhè tiáo tiělù de guǐjù hěn biāozhǔn.

The gauge of this railway is very standard.

宇宙飞船进入了预定轨道。

Yǔzhòu fēichuán jìnrùle yùdìng guǐdào.

The spaceship entered the predetermined orbit.

为了确保列车安全，工人们定期检查铁轨和轨道设备。

Wèile quèbào lièchē ānquán, gōngrénmen dìngqī jiǎnchá tiěguǐ hé guǐdào shèbèi.

To ensure train safety, workers regularly inspect railway tracks and track equipment.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 九

Component: 车

轨