Meaning
链条 refers to a physical chain made of connected metal links, commonly used in machinery, bicycles, or for securing objects. It can also be used metaphorically to describe any linked sequence or chain-like system, such as a supply chain or chain of events.
Usage
Most commonly used in technical, mechanical, or business contexts. When referring to bicycles, you'll often hear 自行车链条 (bicycle chain). In business settings, it appears in terms like 产业链条 (industrial chain) or 供应链条 (supply chain). Native speakers typically use it as a concrete noun rather than in abstract expressions.
Examples
- 01我的自行车链条掉了，需要修一下。, .My bicycle chain fell off and needs to be repaired.
- 02这家公司在整个产业链条中占据重要位置。.This company occupies an important position in the entire industrial chain.
Characters
Measure words
- 条一条链条
- 根一根链条
Common collocations
- 自行车链条bicycle chain
- 产业链条industrial chain
- 供应链条supply chain
- 链条断了the chain broke
Origin
链 originally meant chain or linked metal rings, while 条 is both a measure word for long objects and a suffix indicating strip-like or elongated items. Together they form a compound emphasizing the linked, elongated nature of a chain.