幂 (mì) — (mathematics) power, exponent; (literary) cloth cover, covering

Definition

Math term for 'power / exponent' (as in 2³). The 'cloth cover' sense is archaic/literary — learners only need the math meaning.

noun
(mathematics) powerexponent(literary) cloth covercovering
Easily confused

Examples

  • 幂。
    Èr de èr cì mì děng yú sì.
    Two to the power of two equals four.
  • 幂。
    Qǐng jì suàn zhè ge shù de sān cì mì.
    Please calculate the cube of this number.
  • 幂。
    Gǔ dài nǚ zǐ cháng dài mì lí zhē miàn.
    Ancient women often wore a gauze veil to cover their faces.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 冪; 幂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
冥
冥míng冪mì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 冪 grew from an earlier 巾+冥 form for a cloth tent; the simplified 幂 is a later variant.

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