比值 (bǐ zhí) — (mathematics) ratio, rate, proportion

Definition

A technical/mathematical term for the numerical value of a ratio (a vs. b: a/b). It names the resulting number, while 比例 emphasizes the relationship or comparison between two quantities.

noun
(mathematics) ratiorateproportion
Easily confused

Examples

  • 比值。
    Zhè liǎng gè shù de bǐ zhí shì èr bǐ yī.
    The ratio of these two numbers is two to one.
  • 比值。
    Zhè ge gōng shì zhōng de bǐ zhí hěn gāo.
    The ratio in this formula is very high.
  • 比值。
    Jì suàn yí xià zhè liǎng gè liáng de bǐ zhí.
    Calculate the ratio of these two quantities.

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.

比bǐratio
值zhívalue

比 gives the comparison or ratio and 值 the value, together meaning a ratio value.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
直
直zhí值zhí
Same sound today

值 is made from 亻 (written in full as 人, a person) and 直, with 直 giving the sound.

Open 值 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.