谐波 (xié bō) — (physics) harmonic wave; (music) overtone

Definition

noun

(physics) harmonic wave(music) overtone

谐波。
Zhè zhǒng yí qì kě yǐ jīng què cè liáng diàn yuán zhōng de xié bō.
This instrument can precisely measure harmonics in the power supply.
谐波。
Xǔ duō yuè qì de yīn sè yóu xié bō de qiáng dù jué dìng.
The timbre of many musical instruments is determined by the strength of overtones.
谐波。
Gōng chéng shī zhèng zài yán jiū rú hé jiǎn shǎo diàn lù zhōng de xié bō shī zhēn.
The engineer is studying how to reduce harmonic distortion in the circuit.

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.

谐xiéharmonious

谐 gives the idea of harmonious or matching, and 波 is wave, yielding a harmonic wave.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 諧; 谐 is its simplified writing.

言皆諧

Meaning part形符xíngfú

言言yánspeech

Sound part声符shēngfú

皆

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 諧 combines 言, meaning speech, with 皆 as a sound part; the simplified 谐 is a later abbreviation.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

氵皮波

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

皮

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 氵 is water, and the right side 皮 gives the sound.