物理 (wù lǐ) — physics | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Physics — the natural science studying matter, energy, and forces. Not the same as 生理 ('physiology'), which is about how living bodies work.

noun

physics

Examples

物理。
Wǒ de wù lǐ lǎo shī jiào dé tè bié hǎo.
My physics teacher teaches very well.
物理。
wù lǐ Shì yì mén hěn zhòng yào de kē mù.
Physics is a very important subject.
物理。
Zhè ge wù lǐ shí yàn fēi cháng yǒu qù.
This physics experiment is really interesting.

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wùthings

理lǐprinciples

物 (things) and 理 (principles) combine to mean the principles of things.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 5 HSK 2.0 Level 5 Physics & Chemistry

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