三段论 (sān duàn lùn) — (logic) syllogism

Definition

三段论 (sānduànlùn) is the formal-logic term for a 'syllogism' — a three-part deductive argument with two premises leading to a conclusion, from the Western philosophical tradition.

noun
(logic) syllogism

Examples

  • 三段论？
    Zhè ge sān duàn lùn de jié lùn shì zhèng què de ma?
    Is the conclusion of this syllogism correct?
  • 三段论。
    Lǎo shī yòng sān duàn lùn lái jiě shì luó ji tuī lǐ.
    The teacher used a syllogism to explain logical reasoning.
  • 三段论。
    Yà lǐ shì duō dé de sān duàn lùn zhì jīn réng yǒu yǐng xiǎng.
    Aristotle's syllogism still has influence today.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

三段three sections
三sānthree段duànsection
偏正Modifier + head
论lùnargument/theory

三 and 段 mean three sections, and 论 is the argument, forming the three-part syllogism.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

Open 三 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
殳殳shū
Sound part声符shēngfú
厂
厂chǎng段duàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

段's shape shows 殳 as a hammer breaking a stone, with fragments flying off.

Open 段 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 論; 论 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsay
Sound part声符shēngfú
侖
侖lún論lùn
Same sound today

The traditional form 論 pairs 言 (“say”) with 侖 as a sound component; the simplified 论 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 论 →

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