共振 (gòng zhèn) — resonance

Definition

A physics term for 'resonance' — when one vibrating system amplifies another's vibrations at the same natural frequency, often unwanted (as in the bridge example). Don't confuse with 共鸣, which is used for emotional or sympathetic response.

noun
resonance

Examples

  • 共振。
    Zhè ge qiáo de shè jì yào bì miǎn gòng zhèn.
    The design of this bridge should avoid resonance.
  • 共振。
    gòng zhèn Xiàn xiàng zài wù lǐ shí yàn zhōng hěn cháng jiàn.
    Resonance is very common in physics experiments.
  • 共振。
    Zhè liǎng kuài bō li fā shēng le gòng zhèn.
    These two pieces of glass experienced resonance.

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.

共gòngcommon
振zhènvibrate

共 (common) and 振 (vibrate) combine for objects vibrating at the same frequency.

Characters in this word

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

  • 廾廾gǒngtwo hands
  • 口口kǒuan object

共 shows 廾, two hands, holding up an object. That object was written 口 and later became the 廿-like top.

Open 共 →

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
手手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
辰
辰chén振zhèn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

振 pairs 手 (hand) with 辰: 手 shows it is about a hand action, and 辰 gives the sound.

Open 振 →

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