斜边 (xié biān) — hypotenuse

Definition

In a right triangle, 斜边 is the side opposite the right angle — the longest side, whose length is given by the Pythagorean theorem (勾股定理).

noun
hypotenuse
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • 斜边。
    Zhí jiǎo sān jiǎo xíng de xié biān shì zuì cháng de biān.
    The hypotenuse of a right triangle is the longest side.
  • 斜边。
    Yòng gōu gǔ dìng lǐ kě yǐ suàn xié biān de cháng dù.
    You can calculate the length of the hypotenuse using the Pythagorean theorem.
  • 斜边。
    xié biān Hé zhí jiǎo xiāng duì.
    The hypotenuse is opposite the right angle.

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.

斜xiéslanting
边biānside

斜 indicates slanting, and 边 means side, giving the slanted side or hypotenuse.

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
斗斗dòuladle/dipper
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú斜xié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

斜 pairs 斗, a ladle or dipper, with 余 for sound; the idea of scooping or drawing out was extended to mean a slant.

Open 斜 →

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 邊; 边 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuòwalking; movement
Sound part声符shēngfú
臱
臱mián邊biān(r)
Same sound today

The traditional form 邊 pairs 辶 (walking; movement) with the sound part 臱; the simplified 边 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 边 →

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