支线

支線
zhīxiàn
noun #30,600

Measure Word

支线 tiáo

Meanings

  1. 1 branch line (rail/road/transit)
  2. 2 spur
  3. 3 secondary plot or storyline (in a film/game/novel)

Examples

HSK 3
Zhè tiáo tiělù yǒu jǐ tiáo zhīxiàn.
This railway has several branch lines.
HSK 4
Zhè jiā hángkōng gōngsī zhǔyào jīngyíng zhīxiàn hángbān.
This airline mainly operates regional flights.
HSK 7-9
Zhīxiàn rènwù bǐ zhǔxiàn gèng yǒuqù.
The side quests are more interesting than the main storyline.

Tips

usage
Always paired conceptually with 主线 (main line / main storyline). Common in three domains: transportation (支线铁路, 支线航班), narrative (支线剧情, 支线任务 - used heavily in video game discussion), and electrical/network topology.
memory
(branch) + 线 (line) = a line that branches off the main one. also gives 支流 (tributary) and 分支 (branch / fork).

Stroke Order

zhī
线 xiàn