望远镜
wàngyuǎnjìng
The English word "telescope" is translated into Chinese as 望远镜 (wàngyuǎnjìng).
望远镜 refers to an optical instrument that magnifies.
Meaning: optical instrument that magnifies (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 望 (to gaze/look far), 远 (far/distant) and 镜 (mirror/lens/glass).
Which one should you use?
While 望远镜 (wàngyuǎnjìng) is used for looking at distant objects, 显微镜 (xiǎnwēijìng) is used for looking at microscopic objects.
How do you pronounce it?
wàngyuǎnjìng
Did you know?
- The character 望 carries a strong emotional connotation of 'longing' or 'hoping' that is absent in the English word 'telescope'.
- In Chinese, the character 镜 doesn't just mean a lens but historically refers to a bronze mirror, reflecting how the language adapted ancient objects to name new technology.
- While 望远镜 is the standard term, the phrase 千里镜 is sometimes used in historical dramas to describe a 'thousand-li mirror'.
Examples in context
- 你可以用望远镜看星星。You can use a telescope to look at the stars.This sentence shows how to use 望远镜 to look at stars.Tatoeba #4952829 by murr, translation #5313627 by csmjj
- 你知道显微镜和望远镜的差别吗？Do you know the difference between a microscope and a telescope?This sentence highlights the difference between a microscope and the word 望远镜.Tatoeba #4262117 by notabene, translation #239415 by CK
- 望远镜为我们的文明开启了一种全新的视角来观察宇宙。The telescope has opened a new eye onto the cosmos that has been transformative for our civilization.This sentence describes the transformative perspective the word 望远镜 provides for observing the cosmos.Tatoeba #8975251 by WilsonWong, translation #8713522 by Hybrid
- 我们通过望远镜观察星星。We observed the stars through a telescope.
- 天文台配备了先进的天文望远镜。The observatory is equipped with advanced telescopes.
Example conversation
Yuting and Wei are preparing for a trip to the mountains.
- 雨婷 Yuting伟，你记得带望远镜吗？Wěi, nǐ jìde dài wàngyuǎnjìng ma?Wei, do you remember to bring the telescope?
- 伟 Wei我带了，它在我的包里。Wǒ dàile, tā zài wǒ de bāo lǐ.I brought it, it's in my bag.
- 雨婷 Yuting太好了，我想用它看远处的山。Tài hǎole, wǒ xiǎng yòng tā kàn yuǎnchù de shān.Great, I want to use it to look at the distant mountains.
- 伟 Wei没问题，雨婷，我们现在出发吧。Méi wèntí, Yǔtíng, wǒmen xiànzài chūfā ba.No problem, Yuting, let's head out now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
