表
biǎo
watch (timepiece)
meter; gauge
fur (毛) + clothing (衣) = outer surface, watch, gauge
Fur worn on the outside of clothing was the visible, outer layer — something you could read at a glance, like a watch face or gauge. The outer surface became the concept of displaying or measuring what lies within.
你的手表走得准吗？
nǐ de shǒu biǎo zǒu de zhǔn ma？
Does your watch keep accurate time?
墙上的电表坏了，需要换一个新的。
qiáng shàng de diàn biǎo huài le，xū yào huàn yī gè xīn de。
The electricity meter on the wall is broken and needs to be replaced with a new one.
Words with 表
报税表
bào shuì biǎo
a tax return
登台表演
dēng tái biǎo yǎn
to go on stage
表率
biǎo shuài
example
钟表
zhōng biǎo
clock
周期表
zhōu qī biǎo
periodic table (chemistry)
进度表
jìn dù biǎo
progress chart; schedule
里程表
lǐ chéng biǎo
odometer
量表
liáng biǎo
gauge
金玉其表，败絮其中
jīn yù qí biǎo , bài xù qí zhōng
gilded exterior, shabby and ruined on the inside (idiom)
表冠
biǎo guān
watch crown; winding crown
表带
biǎo dài
watchband; watch strap
表盘
biǎo pán
variant of 表盤|表盘[biao3 pan2]