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临界点 (lín jiè diǎn) — (physics) critical point; (figurative) tipping point, threshold

Definition

The turning point where a system abruptly shifts state — in physics, the critical point of a phase change; figuratively, the moment a situation (patience, relations, conflict) is about to tip over.

noun
(physics) critical point(figurative) tipping pointthreshold

Examples

  • ，临界点。
    Zài wù lǐ xué zhōng, lín jiè diǎn shì zhǐ wù zhì zhuàng tài biàn huà de zhuǎn zhé diǎn.
    In physics, the critical point refers to the turning point of a substance's state change.
  • 临界点，。
    Liǎng guó guān xì yǐ jīng dào le lín jiè diǎn, suí shí kě néng bào fā chōng tū.
    The relationship between the two countries has reached a critical point, and conflict could break out at any time.
  • 临界点，。
    Tā de nài xīn yǐ jīng dào le lín jiè diǎn, zài zhè yàng xià qù tā jiù yào fā huǒ le.
    His patience has reached its critical point; if this continues, he'll lose his temper.

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.

临界approach boundary
临línapproach界jièboundary
动宾Verb + object
点diǎnpoint

临 “approach” + 界 “boundary” + 点 “point” gives a point at a critical boundary.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臨; 临 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 臨, 人 is a person, 臣 is an eye, and 品 is objects, showing a person looking down at objects.

Open 临 →

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
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
介
介jiè界jiè
Same sound today

界 is built from 田 (field) and 介. 田 carries the meaning, while 介 gives the sound.

Open 界 →

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 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsPhysics & Chemistry

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