阻尼 (zǔ ní) — damping (in physics)

Definition

A physics/engineering term for 'damping' — the gradual reduction of oscillation in a mechanical system. Used in technical contexts like suspension, bridges, and vibration control.

noun
damping (in physics)

Examples

  • 阻尼。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào kě yǐ jiǎn shǎo zǔ ní xiàn xiàng.
    This material can reduce the damping phenomenon.
  • ，阻尼。
    Zài qì chē shè jì zhōng, zǔ ní xì tǒng fēi cháng zhòng yào.
    In car design, the damping system is very important.
  • 阻尼，。
    Rú guǒ méi yǒu zǔ ní, qiáo liáng huì shòu dào gèng dà zhèn dòng.
    Without damping, the bridge would experience larger vibrations.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

阻zǔresist
尼nístop

阻 (resist) and 尼 (stop) combine to mean a force that checks motion.

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
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě阻zǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

阻 is built from 阝 (written in full as 阜) on the left and 且 on the right, which gives the sound.

Open 阻 →

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

The shape draws one person sitting on or leaning against another person, giving the sense of stopping close to someone.

Open 尼 →

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