圆周 (yuán zhōu) — circumference (of a circle)

Definition

noun

circumference (of a circle)

圆周？
Zhè ge yuán de yuán zhōu shì duō shǎo?
What is the circumference of this circle?
圆周。
Jì suàn yuán de yuán zhōu xū yào zhī dào zhí jìng.
To calculate the circumference of a circle, you need to know the diameter.
圆周。
Zhè ge yuán de yuán zhōu dà yuē shì sān mǐ.
The circumference of this circle is about three meters.

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zhōucircumference

“圆” names the circle and “周” its surrounding edge, so the word means circumference.

Characters in this word

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 圓; 圆 is its simplified writing.

囗員圓

Meaning part形符xíngfú

囗囗wéi

Sound part声符shēngfú

員

員yuán圓yuán

Same sound today

This is about the traditional form 圓, not the simplified 圆. In 圓, 囗 surrounds 員, and the inner part of 員 is an old circle picture.

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.