低频 (dī pín) — low frequency

Definition

低频 is a technical term for 'low frequency' — used in physics, audio, and signal contexts. Often paired with 高频 ('high frequency') to describe a range of the spectrum.

noun
low frequency

Examples

  • 低频。
    Wǒ men tīng dào le dī pín de shēng yīn.
    We heard a low-frequency sound.
  • 低频。
    Zhè zhǒng shè bèi kě yǐ jiǎn cè dī pín xìn hào.
    This device can detect low-frequency signals.
  • 低频。
    Dì zhèn huì chǎn shēng dī pín de zhèn dòng.
    Earthquakes produce low-frequency vibrations.

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.

低dīlow
频pínfrequency

低 means low and 频 means frequency, so together they denote a low frequency.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénman, person
Sound part声符shēngfú
氐
氐dī低dī
Same sound today

In 低, the left side 亻 is a person, and the right side 氐 gives the sound; the image is a person lowering or bowing themselves.

Open 低 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頻; 频 is its simplified writing.

For 频, the traditional form 頻 came from an older form showing a person near water and meaning 'on the verge'; one part was later removed to mark the 'frequent' use.

Open 频 →

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