矢量 (shǐ liàng) — vector (in physics, mathematics, or computing)

Definition

A vector (数学/物理) — a quantity defined by both magnitude and direction, like force or velocity. Compare 向量, the more common mainland term in pure math contexts.

noun
vector (in physics, mathematics, or computing)

Examples

  • 矢量。
    Sù dù shì yí gè shǐ liàng liáng.
    Velocity is a vector quantity.
  • 矢量。
    Zhè ge ruǎn jiàn kě yǐ chǔ lǐ shǐ liàng tú xíng.
    This software can process vector graphics.
  • 矢量。
    Wǒ men kě yǐ yòng shǐ liàng lái biǎo shì lì hé fāng xiàng.
    We can use vectors to represent force and direction.

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.

矢shǐarrow
量liángquantity

The arrow (矢) image plus quantity (量) expresses a measured direction.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

矢's shape is an old picture of an arrow. The arrow is easier to see in older forms than in the modern 矢.

Open 矢 →

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

  • 日日rìsun
  • 東東dōngbag; east

量 has 日 (sun) over 東 (bag; east). Some explanations suggest measuring under the sun or the sun rising in the east, but the exact origin is unclear.

Open 量 →

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