函数 (hán shù) — (mathematics) function

Definition

noun

(mathematics) function

函数。
Zhè ge hán shù zài shù xué zhōng hěn zhòng yào.
This function is very important in mathematics.
函数。
Lǎo shī ràng wǒ men huà chū zhè ge hán shù de tú xiàng.
The teacher asked us to draw the graph of this function.
，函数。
Zài biān chéng zhōng, hán shù kě yǐ chóng fù shǐ yòng.
In programming, functions can be reused.

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.

函 as contain and 数 as number build the idea of a quantity that contains or depends on another.

Characters in this word

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

函 comes from an old drawing of an upside-down arrow stored inside a box with one or two handles.

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.

Appears in