发条 (fātiáo): clockwork spring

Measure Word

一根发条 gēn

Meanings

1 clockwork spring
2 windup mechanism

Characters

Examples

给这个玩具上一下发条。

Gěi zhège wánjù shàng yíxià fātiáo.

Wind up the spring on this toy.

这个古老的钟需要每天上发条。

Zhège gǔlǎo de zhōng xūyào měitiān shàng fātiáo.

This old clock needs to be wound every day.

Tips

usage

上发条 means 'to wind up.' The figurative expression 上紧发条 means 'to gear up; to ready oneself for action.'

In Pop Culture

发条橙 Fātiáo Chéng

A Clockwork Orange

1971 Stanley Kubrick film, based on the Anthony Burgess novel

Stroke Order

发 fā

条 tiáo

Related Words

发言 fāyán HSK 3 #4,941

to make a speech / to speak / statement

发泄 fāxiè HSK 7-9 #4,800

to vent (emotions); to let off (steam) / to give vent to

发给 fāgěi #4,630

to send to / to issue to / to distribute to

发火 fāhuǒ HSK 7-9 #4,491

to lose one's temper; to flare up / to catch fire; to ignite

发光 fāguāng HSK 7-9 #5,128

to emit light; to shine; to glow

发布 fābù HSK 5 #4,312

to release / to issue / to announce

发觉 fājué HSK 5 #5,217

to become aware / to realize / to detect

发作 fāzuò HSK 7-9 #3,879

to flare up / to have an attack (of illness) / to break out

发送 fāsòng HSK 3 #3,531

to send / to transmit / to dispatch

发动 fādòng HSK 3 #3,417

to launch / to start / to mobilize