质数 (zhì shù) — prime number | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

prime number

Measure word · 个

2质数。
2 Shì zuì xiǎo de zhì shù.
2 is the smallest prime number.
质数。
Yí gè zhì shù zhǐ néng bèi yì hé tā zì jǐ zhěng chú.
A prime number can only be divided by one and itself.
质数。
Shù xué jiā men yì zhí yán jiū zhì shù de xìng zhì.
Mathematicians have been studying the properties of prime numbers.

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.

质 (prime) and 数 (number) name a number divisible only by one and itself.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 質; 质 is its simplified writing.

斦貝質

The traditional form 質 is made up of 貝 and 斦; this describes 質, not the simplified 质.

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 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攴攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

婁

婁lóu數shù(r)

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

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.

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