磁

cí
兹 + 石

Definitions

cí (adjective) magnetic
cí (noun) porcelain

Etymology phono-semantic

stone

Semantic: 石 Phonetic: 兹

About

磁 (cí) is a phono-semantic compound: the stone radical 石 (shí) on the left classifies it as a mineral or hard earthly material, while the component 兹 (zī) on the right provides the pronunciation. Historically it denoted stones with attractive properties, leading to its modern meanings of magnetism, magnetic fields, and lodestones. Due to historical phonetic borrowing and shared material qualities, it is sometimes used interchangeably with 瓷 (porcelain), referring to the hard, stone-like quality of high-fired ceramics, though its dominant usage is magnetism.

Example Sentences Hide

磁铁可以吸铁。

Cítiě kěyǐ xī tiě.

Magnets can attract iron.

磁带里录了音乐。

Cídài lǐ lùle yīnyuè.

Music is recorded on the magnetic tape.

银行卡是磁卡。

Yínhángkǎ shì cíkǎ.

Bank cards are magnetic cards.

地球有一个磁场。

Dìqiú yǒu yīgè cíchǎng.

The Earth has a magnetic field.

磁悬浮列车很快。

Cíxuánfú lièchē hěn kuài.

Maglev trains are very fast.

磁力是看不见的力量。

Cílì shì kàn bù jiàn de lìliàng.

Magnetic force is an invisible force.

科学家研究磁现象。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū cí xiànxiàng.

Scientists study magnetic phenomena.

这种材料具有高磁性。

Zhè zhǒng cáiliào jùyǒu gāo cíxìng.

This material has high magnetism.

Related Characters

Component: 兹

慈 滋 孳 鹚 嵫 糍 镃 嗞 鎡 鰦 鶿 鷀

Component: 石

确 研 破 础 硬 码 碰 矿 碎 岩 碍 磨 碗 碧

Example Words

磁场 磁带 磁性 磁铁 电磁 永磁 消磁 磁共振 磁力 磁化 磁卡 磁吸 磁器 磁感线 磁悬浮 磁暴 磁条 磁极 磁浮 磁盘 磁石 磁县 磁贴 磁体