常量 (cháng liáng) — constant (in mathematics, physics, etc.)

Definition

noun

constant (in mathematics, physics, etc.)

，常量。
Zài shù xué zhōng, cháng liáng shì yí gè gù dìng bú biàn de shù zhí.
In mathematics, a constant is a fixed value that does not change.
常量。
Zhè ge wù lǐ gōng shì lǐ de cháng liáng xū yào xiān què dìng.
The constant in this physics formula needs to be determined first.
常量。
Kē xué jiā men zhèng zài cè liáng zhè ge cháng liáng de jīng què zhí.
Scientists are measuring the precise value of this constant.

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.

常 means constant and 量 means quantity, so the word names a constant quantity.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

巾巾jīncloth

Sound part声符shēngfú

尚

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

常 pairs 巾, a cloth, with 尚 as a sound part; the form originally referred to a lower garment.

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

量 has 日 (sun) over 東 (bag; east). Some explanations suggest measuring under the sun or the sun rising in the east, but the exact origin is unclear.