散射 (sǎn shè) — (physics) scattering

Definition

Physics term for 'scattering' — the spreading of waves or particles when they hit something or pass through a medium (e.g. light scattering that makes the sky blue).

noun
(physics) scattering

Examples

  • 散射。
    Guāng de sǎn shè shǐ tiān kōng kàn qǐ lái shì lán sè de.
    The scattering of light makes the sky look blue.
  • 散射。
    Kē xué jiā yán jiū le lì zǐ sǎn shè de guò chéng.
    Scientists studied the process of particle scattering.
  • 散射。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào kě yǐ jiǎn shǎo shēng bō de sǎn shè.
    This material can reduce the scattering of sound waves.

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.

散sànscatter
射shèradiate/shoot

The 散 'scatter' specifies the kind of 射 'radiate/shoot' action.

Characters in this word

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

  • 林林líntrees, forest
  • 攴攴pūto knock, to tap

散 combines 林 (trees or forest) and 攴 (to knock or tap), originally showing knocking to clear vegetation, later extended to breaking up or dispersing.

Open 散 →

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

In 射, the left part comes from 弓 (bow) and 矢 (arrow), and the right part comes from a hand drawing the bowstring.

Open 射 →

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