zhóuzhòu

axle

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
車 meaning component

  Meaning component

chē

  

vehicle

由 sound component

  Sound component

yóu

  

cause

Evolution

軸 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
軸 Clerical script Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical script

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
軸 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

zhóu

axle, axletree; pivot; axis; axle; spool (for thread); roller (for scrolls); classifier for calligraphy rolls etc

() 

zhòu

see 壓軸戲|压轴戏[yā​zhòu​xì]; Taiwan pr. [zhóu]

Most common words with 軸
Freq.
Word
Meaning

axis

轴承

(mechanical) bearing

卷轴

scroll (book or painting)

轴线

central axis (line)

车轴

axle