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公理 (gōng lǐ) — axiom (in mathematics, logic); self-evident truth; generally accepted principle

Definition

A '公理' is a foundational, self-evident principle taken as true without proof — used in mathematics, logic, and philosophy. Unlike a theorem, it needs no derivation.

noun
axiom (in mathematics, logic)self-evident truthgenerally accepted principle

Examples

  • 公理。
    gōng lǐ Shì shù xué zhèng míng de jī chǔ.
    Axioms are the foundation of mathematical proof.
  • 公理。
    Zhè ge dào lǐ yǐ jīng chéng le gōng rèn de gōng lǐ.
    This principle has become a universally accepted axiom.
  • ，公理。
    Zài zhé xué shàng, gōng lǐ wǎng wǎng shì bù xū yào zhèng míng de.
    In philosophy, axioms are often self-evident propositions.

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.

公gōngcommon
理lǐprinciple

公 (common) combines with 理 (principle) to mean a generally accepted principle.

Characters in this word

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

One theory sees 公 as a picture of a wide-mouthed, round-bottomed jar.

Open 公 →

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
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ理lǐ
Same sound today

理 pairs 玉 (jade) with 里, which shows how to say it; the jade part points to the old sense of polishing jade.

Open 理 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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