物理学 (wù lǐ xué) — physics | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

physics

Examples

物理学。
wù lǐ xué Shì yì mén yán jiū zì rán jiè guī lǜ de jī chǔ kē xué.
Physics is a fundamental science that studies the laws of nature.
物理学，。
Tā zài dà xué zhǔ xiū wù lǐ xué, bì yè hòu chéng le yì míng yán jiū yuán.
He majored in physics in college and became a researcher after graduation.
物理学。
Xiàn dài wù lǐ xué de fā zhǎn tuī dòng le xìn xī jì shù de gé mìng.
The development of modern physics has driven the revolution of information technology.

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.

物理physical principles

物wùmatter理lǐprinciple

偏正Modifier + head

物 means matter, 理 means principle, and 学 means study, so 物理学 is the study of matter and its principles.

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.

牛勿物

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

勿

勿wù物wù

Same sound today

物 puts 牛 beside 勿: 牛 gives the meaning, and 勿 gives the sound.

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

玉玉yùjade

Sound part声符shēngfú

里

里lǐ理lǐ

Same sound today

理 pairs 玉 (jade) with 里, which shows how to say it; the jade part points to the old sense of polishing jade.

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 學; 学 is its simplified writing.

爻爻yáo
六六liù

The traditional form 學 may have used 爻 and 六 for sound, with hands and a child added later; the simplified 学 is a shorthand.

Appears in

School Subjects Physics & Chemistry

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