或然率 (huò rán lǜ) — (mathematics) probability

Definition

A more literary/technical term for probability, mostly found in academic or formal writing. In everyday and most modern contexts, learners will more commonly encounter 概率 (gàilǜ).

noun
(mathematics) probability

Examples

  • 或然率。
    Jì suàn huò rán lǜ xū yào yòng dào gāo jí shù xué.
    Computing probability requires advanced mathematics.
  • ，或然率。
    Zài tǒng jì xué zhōng, huò rán lǜ shì yí gè zhòng yào gài niàn.
    In statistics, probability is an important concept.
  • 或然率。
    Zhè ge jié guǒ de huò rán lǜ hěn dī.
    The probability of this outcome is very low.

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.

或然possible
或huòperhaps然ránsuffix
后缀Suffix
率lǜrate

或然 ('possible') and 率 ('rate') give the idea of probability.

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
戈戈gē
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán或huò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

或 combines 戈, a weapon shape, with 員, which supplies the sound.

Open 或 →

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
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
肰
肰rán然rán
Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

率 was drawn as a bird-catching net, with a stick above and below. In the form described, the lower horizontal stroke is missing, so the whole shape represents a rope.

Open 率 →

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