TongTong
Sign in

概率 (gài lǜ) — probability

Definition

概率 is the formal, mathematical term for 'probability' (a number from 0 to 1). 可能 is the everyday word for 'possibility / might' — use 概率 when you mean a calculated, numeric chance.

noun
probability

Examples

  • 概率。
    Zhè ge shì jiàn de gài lǜ hěn xiǎo.
    The probability of this event is very small.
  • 概率？
    Nǐ zhī dào chéng gōng de gài lǜ shì duō shǎo ma?
    Do you know what the probability of success is?
  • 概率。
    Jì suàn gài lǜ xū yào dà liàng shù jù.
    Calculating probability requires a large amount of data.

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.

概gàigeneral
率lǜrate

概 means general and 率 means rate, so 概率 is the general rate at which something happens.

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
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
既
既jì概gài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

概 pairs 木 (wood) with 既 as its sound part; the character meant a strickle.

Open 概 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Math

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.