当量 (dāng liàng) — equivalent (chemical, physical, or explosive yield)

Definition

Technical chemistry/physics term: the equivalent weight or explosive yield of a substance. Used in formulas, lab reports, and discussions of stoichiometry or blast power — not everyday speech.

noun
equivalent (chemical, physical, or explosive yield)

Examples

  • 当量1:2。
    Zhè ge fǎn yìng de dāng liàng shì 1: 2.
    The equivalent ratio of this reaction is 1:2.
  • 当量，。
    Bào zhà dāng liàng yuè dà, pò huài lì jiù yuè qiáng.
    The larger the explosive yield, the stronger the destructive power.
  • 当量。
    Wǒ men xū yào jì suàn zhè ge huà hé wù de dāng liàng.
    We need to calculate the equivalent of this compound.

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.

当dāngequivalent
量liángamount

当 means equivalent and 量 means amount, so together they mean equivalent 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 當; 当 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng當dāng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 當 combines 田 (field) with 尚; the evidence describes fields facing each other.

Open 当 →

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

  • 日日rìsun
  • 東東dōngbag; east

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.

Open 量 →

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