比例 (bǐ lì) — proportion, ratio; scale (of a map, model, or d…

Definition

比例 is the math/data term for 'ratio' or 'proportion' (e.g. 2:1) and the 'scale' of a map. 比 is the everyday preposition '…than'; 比重 and 占比 both mean 'proportion' of a part in a whole.

noun

proportionratioscale (of a map, model, or drawing)

Examples

比例。
Shuǐ hé niú nǎi de bǐ lì shì èr bǐ yī.
The proportion of water to milk is two to one.
比例。
Zhè zhāng dì tú de bǐ lì shì yì bǐ yì bǎi wàn.
The scale of this map is one to one million.
比例。
Zhè ge chéng shì lǐ nián qīng rén de bǐ lì hěn gāo.
The proportion of young people in this city is very high.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

比bǐratio

例lìstandard

比 (ratio) and 例 (standard) combine to express a proportion or scale.

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.

匕匕bǐ
匕匕bǐ

比 is two 匕 placed side by side. Chu Wan-li treats both as sound parts, while an old reading takes the side-by-side arrangement as putting things next to each other.

Open 比 →

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

亻列例

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

列

列liè例lì

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

例 is built from 亻, which relates to people, and 列, which gives the sound.

Open 例 →

Appears in