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相对论 (xiāng duì lùn) — theory of relativity

Definition

noun
theory of relativity

Examples

  • 相对论。
    Ài yīn sī tǎn tí chū le xiāng duì lùn.
    Einstein proposed the theory of relativity.
  • 相对论。
    xiāng duì lùn Gǎi biàn le wǒ men duì shí jiān hé kōng jiān de lǐ jiě.
    The theory of relativity changed our understanding of time and space.
  • 相对论。
    Xué xí xiāng duì lùn xū yào hěn hǎo de shù xué jī chǔ.
    Studying the theory of relativity requires a good math foundation.

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.

相对relative
相xiāngmutual对duìopposite
偏正Modifier + head
论lùntheory

“相对” (relative) and “论” (theory) combine to name the theory of relativity.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 對; 对 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 對, the shape comes from an early drawing of 丵 (a digging tool), 土 (earth), and 又 (a hand); it may have meant developing land.

Open 对 →

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 →
Appears in
Physics & Chemistry

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