光学 (guāng xué) — optics | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

optics

光学。
Tā zhèng zài yán jiū guāng xué zhōng de zhé shè xiàn xiàng.
He is studying refraction phenomena in optics.
光学。
guāng xué Shì wù lǐ xué de yí gè zhòng yào fēn zhī.
Optics is an important branch of physics.
光学。
Zhè mén kè chéng hán gài le guāng xué de jī běn yuán lǐ.
This course covers the basic principles of optics.

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.

The 学 study of 光 light, giving optics.

Characters in this word

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

The shape 光 places 火 (fire) above 卩 (a kneeling person), showing fire over the head and the shining of light.

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 學; 学 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 學 may have used 爻 and 六 for sound, with hands and a child added later; the simplified 学 is a shorthand.

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