倍数 (bèi shù) — multiple (in mathematics)

Definition

A math term meaning 'multiple' — a number that contains another number an exact whole number of times (e.g., 6 is a 倍数 of 2). Contrast with 因数, which is the number being multiplied (6 is a 因数 of 2 in 2×3=6).

noun
multiple (in mathematics)

Examples

  • 倍数。
    Liù shì èr hé sān de bèi shù.
    Six is a multiple of two and three.
  • 倍数。
    Qiú zhè liǎng gè shù de zuì xiǎo gōng bèi shù.
    Find the least common multiple of these two numbers.
  • 倍数。
    Zhè ge shù liè zhōng měi gè shù dōu shì qián yí gè shù de liǎng bèi shù.
    Each number in this sequence is twice the previous number.

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.

倍bèimultiple
数shùnumber

倍 means multiple and 数 means number, so the word names a number that is a multiple.

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
人人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
咅
咅pǒu倍bèi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

倍 has 人 on the left and 咅 on the right; 人 points to a person, while 咅 gives the sound.

Open 倍 →

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.

Open 数 →

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