理论课 (lǐ lùn kè) — theory class; theoretical course

Definition

noun
theory classtheoretical course
Measure word · 节

Examples

  • 理论课。
    Zhè xué qī wǒ xuǎn xiū le yì mén lǐ lùn kè.
    I took a theory class this semester.
  • 理论课。
    lǐ lùn kè De lǎo shī jiǎng kè hěn shēng dòng.
    The teacher of the theory class lectures very vividly.
  • 理论课。
    Zhè mén lǐ lùn kè měi zhōu sān shàng wǔ shàng kè.
    This theory class meets on Wednesday mornings.

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.

理论theory
理lǐprinciple论lùndiscourse
联合Side by side
课kèclass

“理” and “论” together mean theory, and “课” means class.

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
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.

Open 理 →

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 論; 论 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánsay
Sound part声符shēngfú
侖
侖lún論lùn
Same sound today

The traditional form 論 pairs 言 (“say”) with 侖 as a sound component; the simplified 论 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 论 →

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 課; 课 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánto say
Sound part声符shēngfú
果
果guǒ課kè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 課 pairs 言 (to say) with 果 as a sound part; the simplified 课 is a shorthand and its right side is not a sound part.

Open 课 →

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