周波 (zhōu bō) — (electronics) cycle

Definition

Technical term for one full 'cycle' of a periodic waveform, used in electronics and signal analysis. Almost always appears in fixed phrases like 频率 ('frequency') or measured in 赫兹 (hertz).

noun
(electronics) cycle
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 周波60。
    Zhè ge diàn lù de zhōu bō pín lǜ shì 60 hè zī.
    The cycle frequency of this circuit is 60 hertz.
  • 50周波。
    Jiāo liú diàn měi miǎo yǒu 50 gè zhōu bō.
    Alternating current has 50 cycles per second.
  • 周波。
    Wǒ men xū yào cè liáng xìn hào de yí gè wán zhěng zhōu bō.
    We need to measure a complete cycle of the signal.

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.

周zhōucycle
波bōwave

周 (cycle) and 波 (wave) combine to mean one complete wave cycle.

Characters in this word

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

The oldest form of 周 drew a jade artifact with carved patterns. It was later borrowed for a place name, so an extra mark was added to distinguish it.

Open 周 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí波bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 氵 is water, and the right side 皮 gives the sound.

Open 波 →

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