圆弧 (yuán hú) — arc (geometry) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

arc (geometry)

Measure word · 条

Examples

圆弧。
Zhè ge tú xíng yóu yì tiáo yuán hú hé liǎng tiáo zhí xiàn zǔ chéng.
This shape is made up of one arc and two straight lines.
圆弧，。
Qiáo gǒng cǎi yòng le dà yuán hú shè jì, fēi cháng měi guān.
The bridge arch adopts a large-arc design, which is very beautiful.
圆弧？
Huà yí gè wán zhěng de yuán xū yào sì gè yuán hú ma?
Does drawing a complete circle require four arcs?

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.

“圆” gives circular and “弧” gives arc, together a circular arc.

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

弓瓜弧

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

瓜

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

弧 uses 弓 (bow) to show a wooden bow or a curve like a bow, and 瓜 for the pronunciation.

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