十进制 (shí jìn zhì) — decimal system, base-ten system (in mathematics)

Definition

The base-ten number system (0–9), as opposed to 二进制 (binary) or 十六进制 (hexadecimal).

noun
decimal systembase-ten system (in mathematics)

Examples

  • ，十进制。
    Jì suàn jī shǐ yòng èr jìn zhì, ér rén lèi cháng yòng shí jìn zhì.
    Computers use binary, while humans commonly use the decimal system.
  • 十进制。
    Zhè ge shù zì shì shí jìn zhì biǎo shì de.
    This number is expressed in the decimal system.
  • 十进制。
    Wǒ men píng shí yòng de dōu shì shí jìn zhì.
    What we use in everyday life is the decimal system.

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.

十shíten
进制base system
进jìncarry制zhìsystem
偏正Modifier + head

十 gives the base ten and 进制 gives the carrying system, so it means the decimal system.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early shape 十 was mostly a single vertical stroke, sometimes with a dot, and later gained a horizontal stroke to form a cross. For the number ten, it marked the next digit above one.

Open 十 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 進; 进 is its simplified writing.

  • 辵辵chuòwalk
  • 隹隹zhuīshort-tail bird

The traditional form 進 pairs 辵 (walk) with 隹 (short-tail bird): the picture showed moving forward because a bird can only walk forward, not backward. The simplified 进 is a later shorthand.

Open 进 →

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

The form 制 pairs 朱 (tree) with 刀 (knife), showing the act of cutting a tree.

Open 制 →

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