正弦 (zhèng xián) — sine (mathematics) | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

sine (mathematics)

Examples

，正弦。
Zài zhí jiǎo sān jiǎo xíng zhōng, zhèng xián děng yú duì biān chú yǐ xié biān.
In a right triangle, the sine equals the opposite side divided by the hypotenuse.
正弦。
zhèng xián Hán shù de zhí zài fù yì hé yī zhī jiān biàn huà.
The value of the sine function varies between negative one and one.
正弦。
zhèng xián De tú xiàng shì yì tiáo bō làng xiàn.
The graph of sine is a wavy line.

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.

正zhèngupright

The 'upright' and 'chord' meanings build the term 正弦.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

丁

丁dīng正zhèng

Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

弓玄弦

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

玄

玄xuán弦xián

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

弦 uses 弓 (bow) to show what it is about and 玄 to show how it is pronounced.

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