代数 (dài shù) — algebra | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

algebra

代数。
Wǒ men shàng xué qī xué le dài shù.
We studied algebra last semester.
代数。
Tā shì yí wèi dài shù lǎo shī.
He is an algebra teacher.
代数。
dài shù Shì shù xué de yí gè zhòng yào bù fen.
Algebra is an important part of mathematics.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

代dàisubstitute

代 (substitute) and 数 (number) together name algebra, where symbols substitute for numbers.

Characters in this word

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

亻弋代

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

弋

弋yì代dài

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 代, 亻 shows a person, and 弋 gives the sound.

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 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攴攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

婁

婁lóu數shù(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 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.

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