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二元 (èr yuán) — (mathematics) duality; two-place (as in 二元关系 'binary relation'); (chemistry) binary (as in 二元化合物 'binary compound'); (linguistics) bivalence (as in 二元性 'bivalence')

Definition

A technical prefix meaning 'two-element' or 'two-place', used in math, chemistry, and linguistics. Combines with nouns like 关系, 化合物, or 性 to form terms — never used alone in everyday speech.

noun
(mathematics) dualitytwo-place (as in 二元关系 'binary relation')(chemistry) binary (as in 二元化合物 'binary compound')(linguistics) bivalence (as in 二元性 'bivalence')

Examples

  • 二元。
    Zhè ge fāng chéng shì èr yuán yí cì fāng chéng.
    This equation is a linear equation in two variables.
  • 二元。
    Shuǐ shì yì zhǒng èr yuán huà hé wù.
    Water is a binary compound.
  • 二元。
    Zhè ge luó ji xì tǒng jù yǒu èr yuán xìng.
    This logical system has bivalence.

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.

二èrtwo
元yuánelement

二 means two and 元 element; together they describe a two-element system.

Characters in this word

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

二 is drawn as two parallel strokes, where the number of strokes shows the amount.

Open 二 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape 元 shows a figure with two lines for a head, one connected to the body and one above it, emphasizing the head.

Open 元 →
Appears in
Math

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